CDB 3082

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LAB IV

LABORATORY 2
Experiment 1
Waste Water Sampling and Characterization – Solid
Determination

Lab Instructor : Amlina

No Name Matric Id
1 Jagbeer Singh Khera 16001706
2 Pravindeeran Veerasingam 16001993
3 Abdul Remy bin Mohd Fauzi 16002042
4 Prashannaah Prabhakaran 16001875
1.0 Introduction

Human body is made mostly from water. Even small dehydration would affect
someone’s health. Headache, migraine and fatigue are common illness related to low water
content in the body. In severe cases, dehydration would lead to death. Hence, it is important to
drink enough water to sustain the body requirement. Homo sapiens only consume fresh water
and it is important to manage the fresh water source not contaminated by unwanted waste. The
presence of waste would produce huge impact not only to human, but to flora and fauna.
Therefore, it is essential to preserve the water source (i.e. river, lake, hot spring).

One of the method to determine of contaminant in water is Total Suspended Solids

(TSS). Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is a key parameter to evaluate estuarine and coastal water
quality conditions, which directly affects the light attenuation and thereafter the ocean primary
production of plankton (Cole and Cloern, 1987; Chloern, 1987; May et al., 2003). Presence of
TSS such as nutrient salts from a nearby farm would promote the growth of algae exponentially.
This phenomenon is known as eutrophication. The presence of abnormal growth of algae
blocked the sunlight from reaching bottom part of pond or lake. The lack of sunlight would
reduce the rate of photosynthesis of underwater plant. The condition does change a pond or
lake oxygen level that is unbearable for aquatic animals to thrive. Eventually, the affected pond
or lake ecosystem is dead.

In the experiment, there are three main objectives which are:

- To study the volume of settle able solids

- To study the total solids and total volatile solids and fixed solids

- To study the volume of suspended solids(total and volatile)

2.0 Literature Review

Wastewater is any type of water that has been highly affected by human use. There are 3
types of wastewater which are the domestic wastewater from the household, municipal
wastewater from the communities which is also known as sewage and industrial wastewater
from the industrial activities. Raw wastewater that does being treated may contain
contamination which causes water pollution to occur whereby the water bodies is
contaminated by physical, chemical and biological pollutants. After wastewater was
treated in a water treatment plant, the wastewater still has suspended particles that do not
dissolve and it is known as total suspended solids (TSS).

Total suspended solids (TSS) can be explained as all particles in water that will not pass
through a glass fiber filter without an organic binder (USEPA 1971). This includes all
organic and inorganic matter such as algae, sediments, and metals or nutrients that have
attached to the particles. Total solids concentration is the total suspended solids in a water
sample and the total dissolved solids (TDS) in that sample. TDS particles are less than 2
micrometers, while all particles larger than 2 micrometer is considered to be total suspended
solids (TSS). The standard pore size of the glass fiber filter to be used for total suspended
solids (TSS) experiments cannot be absolutely defined because of the physical nature of glass
fiber filters. However, pore sizes of 2 μm or smaller should be used for TSS test so that TDS
does not highly skew test results (USEPA 2012b). For the laboratory tests conducted during
this research, a glass fiber filter with a nominal 1.5 μm pore size was used.

As total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations increases, the overall water quality of a water
body become poorer (Michigan DEQ 2001). Higher concentrations of suspended solids
decrease the clarity of the water. As suspended solids concentrations increase and water
clarity decreases, more heat can be absorbed into the water (Marcus et al. 1990). Since the
saturation concentration for oxygen decreases as temperatures rise, higher water temperatures
ultimately result in a decrease of dissolved oxygen (DO) (Missouri DNR 2013). Dissolved
oxygen (DO) is one of the main factors for determining water quality in a water body. High
concentrations of suspended solids ultimately might reduce dissolved oxygen (DO)
concentrations in the water body. Increased suspended solids concentrations can increase
sedimentation in a water body. High levels of suspended solids led to a high level of settling,
and sediment can cover the water bed. Moreover, high suspended solids concentrations can
adversely affect the ecosystem of the water body.
3.0 Methodology
3.1 Experiment A: Settleable Solids

The main objective of this experiment is to determine the volume of settleable solid for three
different water sample which are the influent of a wastewater system, wastewater from aerated
tank and the effluent leaving the wastewater treatment system.

The sample were settled

for another 15 minutes
Samples were collectted and the volume of
from the wastewater settleable solid were
system one day before the
measured..
experiment

The sample were settled

for 45 minutes, and a
The samples was mixed
stirring rod were used to
properly and filled in
gently dislodge any solids
individual marked Imhoff
that had clung to the
cones till the 1 Litre mark.
sides.

Figure 3.1.1: Flow diagram on steps to conduct experiment A.

3.2 Experiment B: Total Solids and Total Volatile Solids and Fixed Solids

The main objective of this experiment is to determine the total solid, total volatile solids and
fixed solid for three different water sample which are the influent of a wastewater system,
wastewater from aerated tank and the effluent leaving the wastewater treatment system.

Then the furnace were allowed to

The weight of porcelain
evaporating dishes that had been
dried, pre-fired and desiccated
were measured and recorded.
cool down till room temperature
before the dishes were removed
and re-weighed. The fixed and
volatile solids were calculated in
term of mg/L

Sample were mixed properly and The dishes cointaining the dried
25 mL of each samples were total solids were placed in a
poured in the porcelain dish and muffle furnace. The samples were
the weight were measured. fired at 550ᵒC for one hour.

The dishes were labbeled and put

After drying the weight of the dish
in the oven at temperature set at
were measured and recorded.
103 - 105ᵒC for overnight.

Figure 3.2.1: Flow diagram on steps to conduct experiment B.

3.3 Experiment C: Suspended Solids – Total and Volatile

The main objective of this experiment is to determine the total suspended solid and volatile
suspended solids for three different water sample which are the influent of a wastewater system,
wastewater from aerated tank and the effluent leaving the wastewater treatment system.

Then the samples were fired at

550ᵒC for one hour. The furnace
The tare weights of three
were let to cold down to room
aluminium dishes containing glass
temperature before being re-
fibre filter were obtained.
weighed. The volatile suspended
solids in mg/L were calculated.

Filtering apparatus was assembled.

After drying the weight of the dish
The fliter was wet with a small
were measured and recorded.
volume of distilled water.

The samples were filtered using

10 mL of influent, 5 mL of aeration
the vacuum filter. The filter papers
tank waste water and 25 mL of
which contained the residues were
effluent samples were taken and
then transferred to respective
poured in individual aluminium
aluminium dishes and dried
dishes.
overnight at 103ᵒC

Figure 3.3.1: Flow diagram on steps to conduct experiment 3.

4.0 Results and Discussion

4.1 Experiment A: Settleable Solids.

In experiment A, experiment were conducted with three different sample where the sample
was poured into the imhoff cones and it was let to settle down for 45 minutes. We have
observed aerated water sample have the most settleable solids followed by influent and
effluent

Graph of volume of settleable solids of different

area of sample.
1000
Volume of settleable solids (mL)

800
800

600

400

200
5 0.1
0
Influent Aerated Effluent
Water Samples

Figure 1: Volume of settleable solids of different samples.

From the results shown that the aeration have high amount of settleable solids. Aeration tank
is secondary phase of water treatment plant. Aeration in an activated sludge process is based
on pumping air into a tank, which promotes the microbial growth in the wastewater. The
microbes feed on the organic material, forming flocks which can easily settle out. After
settling in a separate settling tank, bacteria forming the activated sludge flocks are
continually recirculated back to the aeration basin to increase the rate of decomposition.
Meanwhile, effluent has lowest amount of settleable solids as the water of sample has already
undergone the wastewater treatment. Besides, influent which has not undergo any treatment
has low amount of solids compared to aerated (Byrne, 2017). This is because there are
additional substance been added into the tank which promote the separation or more known
as “coagulation and flocculation” which act as agent to settle down the solid in the sample.
4.2 Experiment B: Total Solids – Total Volatile Solids and Fixed Solids.
In experiment B, experiment is carried out to study the total solid, fixed solid and volatile
solid content in three different sample. At first 25mL of sample taken from each of the three
samples type (Influent, Aeration Tank and Effluent). The sample is dried in a crucible at
105°C and the weight of the sample left in the crucible is the amount of total solid. The
samples are then ignited in a furnace at 550°C and the weight of the remaining sample is the
total fixed solid while the weight of evaporated sample is the total volatile solid. Porcelain
dish was used in this experiment due to the ability to withstand the high temperature
especially when it is placed in the furnace.

Total solid (mg/L), Fixed solid (mg/L), Volatile

solid (mg/L) for different areas.
3500
2908
Concentration of Solids (mg/L)

3000
2500
1948
2000 1764
1304 Total solid (mg/L)
1500
960
1000 632 472 Fixed solid (mg/L)
460
500 160 Volatile solid (mg/L)
0
Influent Aerated Effluent
Water Samples

Figure 2: The total solids, total fixed solids and total volatile solids of different areas.
From the results obtained, it can be observed that aerated tank has the highest amount
of total solid, fixed solid and volatile solid followed by influent and the least in effluent. This
is because in the aeration tank contains activated sludge for treatment. Therefore, the sludges
contribute to the high concentration of total solids, fixed solids and volatile solids. Despite
having a very high concentration of contaminants, the aeration tank is important when it
comes to water treatment process.

Total solids are dissolved solid plus suspended solid in a settleable water sample.
(What are total solids and why are they important?, 2012). It applies the same as for fixed
solid and volatile solid as both of it are addition of dissolved and suspended solid. Volatile
solids are the solids that are lost on the ignition of the dry solids at 550°C. Fixed solid are the
solid that remains after the furnace combustions which in general wastewater treatment plant
it is known as inorganic (mineral) matter. (Solids, n.d.)

4.3 Experiment C: Suspended Solids – Fixed and Volatile Suspended Solids

In experiment C, the experiment is conducted to study the suspended solids content in

all the three samples. The volume for each sample is measured , 75mL of lake water, 50 mL
of influent and 10 mL of aeration. The purpose is to study the total and volatile suspended
solids in the said water samples. Three filter papers that have been wet previously with
distilled water are placed at the bottom of the filtering cylinder to let them seat. The water
samples are then poured inside the filtering apparatus to suction out the water present in the
sample suction out the water present in the sample. The sample was then removed from the
filtration apparatus and the samples are transferred into the aluminum dish. The aluminum
dishes are set in the oven overnight at the temperature of 103ºC for drying process. The
cooled dried samples are weighed along with the aluminum dish and filter paper. Then, the
samples are placed into a furnace at the temperature of 550ºC for an hour. The samples are
then cooled and weighed again. The data obtained from this part of experiment are used to
calculate the total, fixed and volatile suspended solids.

Total suspended solids (mg/L), Fixed suspended

solids (mg/L), Volatile suspended solids (mg/L)
for different area.
2500 2156
Concentration of Solids (mg/L)

2000
1596
Total suspended solids
1500 1172 1284
(mg/L)
1000 872
Fixed suspended solids
572
424 420 (mg/L)
500 152 Volatile suspended solids
0 (mg/L)
Influent Aerated Effluent
Water Samples

Figure 3: The total suspended solids, fixed suspended solids and volatile suspended solids of
different areas.
In the graph above, it shows the suspended solid in aerated tank has the highest amount
followed by influent and finally effluent. Suspended solid is known as the small solid
particles which remain in suspension of water as colloids. Suspended materials are very
displeasing and provide adsorption sites for chemical and biological agents.

Suspended organic solids which are degraded anaerobically may release obnoxious odours.
The reasoning behind the huge amount of total suspended solids, fixed suspended solids and
volatile suspended solids in aeration tank is due to the presence of the activated sludge in the
tank for the purpose of wastewater treatment.

Total dissolved solids (mg/L), Fixed dissolved solids

(mg/L), Volatile dissolved solids (mg/L) for different
area.
800 752
664
Concentration of Solids (mg/L)

600

400 Total dissolved solids (mg/L)

168 132 Fixed dissolved solids (mg/L)
200 88
36 60 52
8 Volatile dissolved solids (mg/L)
0
Influent Aerated Effluent
Water Samples

Figure 4: The total dissolved solids, fixed dissolved solids and volatile dissolved solids of
different areas.

In this part, total dissolved, fixed dissolved and volatile dissolved solids are identified from
the data obtained from experiment B and experiment C. Aerated tank as shown the highest
amount followed influent and effluent.

The term total dissolved solids refer to materials that are completely dissolved in water.
Those solids are filterable in nature and defined as residue upon evaporating of non-filter able
sample on a filter paper. Dissolved solids may lead to scaling in boiler, corrosion and
degraded quality of the product. Estimation of total dissolved solids is useful to determine
whether the water is suitable for drinking purpose, agriculture and industrial purpose (Oram).
Aeration yields the highest value for total dissolved solids as the activated sludge keeps on
 being introduced into the tank. The amount of total dissolved solids present in lake water is
higher than influent probably because of the minerals and other substances present in it,
causing it to have a higher value than the effluent.

4.4 Calculation and Questions

Calculate the percent solids reduction through the treatment plant.

Percentage of solid reduction = (Influent – Effluent)/ Influent x 100%
Characteristics Percentage
Settleable matter (5-0.10)/5 X 100% = 98%

Total Dissolved Solids (168-60)/68 X 100% = 64.3 %

Volatile Suspended Solids (424-152)/424 x 100% = 64.2%

Fixed Solids (1304-472)/1304 x 100 % = 63.8 %

Suspended Solids (1596-572)/1596 x 100 % = 64.2 %

Volatile Suspended Solids (424-152)/424 x 100 % = 64.2 %

Fixed Suspended Solids (1172-420)/1172 x 100 % = 64.2 %

Dissolved Solids (168-60)/60 x 100 % = 64.3 %

1. What major types of solids are removed in primary treatment and secondary
treatment respectively?

Primary treatment is a result of the capture of settleable organic / inorganic matters and some
suspended solids. It is normally done through sedimentation or settling process. Whereas
secondary treatment is a removal of biodegradable organics and other suspended solid that
escapes the primary treatment. The treatment involves the use of microorganisms where it
metabolize the biodegradable organics, converting them into CO2, water & energy for growth
and reproduction.
 2. Why must reduce samples be brought to ambient temperature before weighing?

This is because the hot object warms the air and absorbs the moisture around it thereby gain
the weight of the samples. As a result, the reading of the weighing balance is inaccurate.

3. Using your data and assuming that the flowrate going into the treatment plant is
10 x106 L/day, how many kg/day of suspended solids are in the raw influent?

Taking the value for total suspended solids for influent = 1596 mg/L

Rate of suspended solid = total suspended solids x flow rate

1596 𝑚𝑔 10 𝑥 106 𝐿 1 𝐾𝑔
Rate of suspended solid = x x 1 𝑥 10 ^6 𝑚𝑔 = 15.96 x 103 Kg/Day
𝐿 𝐷𝑎𝑦

4. Assuming that the wastewater treatment plant has a primary sedimentation

tank. If 60% of the raw influent TSS is removed during primary sedimentation,
find the volume of primary sludge produced. Assume the specific gravity of fixed
solids is 2.5 and volatile solids is 1.0.

Mp = E x TSS x Qin

where,

Mp = Mass of primary sludge

E = Removal efficiency
TSS = Total suspended solids of influent
Qin = Volumetric flowrate

1596 𝑚𝑔 10 𝑥 106 𝐿 1 𝐾𝑔
Mp = 0.6 x x x 1 𝑥 10 ^6 𝑚𝑔 = 9576 Kg/Day
𝐿 𝐷𝑎𝑦

Determine specific gravity of sludge

𝑋 𝑥
Ρsl =( 2500 𝐾𝑔/𝑚^3 x 1000 𝐾𝑔/𝑚^3 )^-1

X = 1172/1596 = 0.734
Xv = 1-0.734 = 0.266
0.734 0.266
Ρsl =( 2500 𝐾𝑔/𝑚^3 x 1000 𝐾𝑔/𝑚^3 )^-1 = 1786.99 Kg/m^3

Volume = Mass of sludge / Density of sludge = 15.96 x 103 Kg / 1786.99 Kg/m^3 = 8.93
m3/day

5. A raw sewage goes through an anaerobic digestion process, where the volatile
solids are reduced from 65% to 40%. If all of the volatile solids reduced is given
off as gas and if the specific gravity of the volatile solids is 1.3 and fixed solids is
2.5, what is the percentage reduction in solids volume?
Based on the sewage collected,
Volume of sample = 25 mL
Total solids = 1764 mg/L
Fixed solids = 1304 mg/L
Volatile solids = 460 mg/L

Hence,
𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠, 𝑥 = = 1304/1764 = 0.739
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠, 𝑥 = = 460/1764 = 0.261
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠

To calculate the mass of total solids collected,

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠 = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑥 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙e

= 1764 mg/L x 0.025 L = 44.1mg

To calculate the volume of fixed and volatile solids,

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠 = (Mass of total solids) / Density of fixed solids =

0.739 x 0.0441g / 2500000 g =1.30x 10-8 m3

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 = (Mass of total solids) / Density of volatile solids =

0.261 x 0.0441g / 1300000 g =8.23x 10-9 m3

Since total volatile solids is changed from 65% to 40%, percentage of change in total volatile solids
is 25%.

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠 = 25% 𝑥 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑

As such, to calculate the percentage reduction in solids volume,

𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = (𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 / 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠 +

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖) x 100 %
= (25% x 8.23x 10-9 m3) / (1.30x 10-8 m3 + 8.23x 10-9 m3) = 0.097 x 100% = 9.69 %.
5.0 Conclusion & Recommendation

This experiment is conducted to study the waste present in the wastewater in UTP. The
importance of studying this experiment was to become familiar with wastewater treatment
plant tests. As we know wastewater treatment is very important as it removes all the waste from
our daily water supplies.

In experiment A, the main objective is to determine the settleable solids, samples are filled into
1 Litre of Imhoff cones individually. By the end of experiment, we can observe that water from
aeration tank contain higher volume of settleable solids followed by influent and then effluent.

In experiment B, the main objective is to determine total solids, total volatile solid and total
fixed solids in all three samples. The amount of total solid samples is obtained by drying the
samples in a porcelain dish at 105°C and the weight of the sample left in the crucible is the
amount of total solid. The samples are then ignited in a furnace at 550°C and the weight of the
remaining sample is the total fixed solid while the weight of evaporated sample is the total
volatile solid. From this experiment we can conclude that water from the aeration tank have
the highest total solids, total volatile solid and total fixed solids, then followed by influent and
then effluent.

In experiment C, the main objective is to determine the total suspended solids and volatile
suspended solids. Total, fixed and volatile suspended solids are obtained by filtering the
samples using vacuum filter, dried overnight at 105°C to obtained total fixed solid and ignited
in furnace at 550°C to obtained total volatile suspended solids. Results from the experiment
were tabulated and discussed in chapter 4.

Although there are a lot of errors occurred which cannot be avoided, some data obtained were
not accurate. But overall, the objectives of the experiment to observe and determine and
calculate the percent solids reduction of the samples are achieved.
ERRORS AND RECOMMENDATION.

a) Systematic Error
1. Blockage in vacuum filter.
Error: During the experiment there were blockage in vacuum filter causing the
sample to be partially filtered. This will cause error during weighing process as not
all water is being filter out.
Recommendation: Proper servicing should be done on the vacuum filter to prevent
any blockage.
2. Zero error on weighing scale.
Error: During the weighing of samples there were zero error.
Recommendation: We should calibrate the weighing scale after every reading is
taken. Besides we should repeat the weighing few times to get the average value.

b) Human Error
1. Parallel error
Error: There were error due to positioning of eyes during measuring the volume of
sample
Recommendation: We should position our eye properly during measuring the
volume of sample and to be in the safe side we should take do multiple samples of
the same volume and take the average value.
6.0 References
Chen, S., Han L., Chen, X., Li, D., Sun, L and Li, Y. (2015). Estimating wide range Total Suspended
Solids concentrations from MODIS 250-m imageries: An improved method. ISPRS Journal of
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 99. Retrieved from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268690575_Estimating_wide_range_Total_Susp
ended_Solids_concentrations_from_MODIS_250-m_imageries_An_improved_method

Byrne, W. (2017). Why is Aeration Important for Wastewater Treatment? Retrieved from OXYMEM:

https://www.oxymem.com/blog/why-is-aeration-important-for-wastewater-treatment

Oram, B. (n.d.). Sources of Total Dissolved Solids (Minerals). Water Testing Total Dissolved Solids
Drinking Water Quality.

Solids. (n.d.). Retrieved from Waste & Water Engineering:

https://nptel.ac.in/courses/105104102/solids%202.htm

What are total solids and why are they important? (2012, March). Retrieved from United States
Enviromental Protection Agency:

https://archive.epa.gov/water/archive/web/html/vms58.html
7.0 Appendices
Experiment A:
Settleable Solids

Sewage Aerated Lake

Sample (Effluent)
(Influent)
Volume of settleable
5.00 800 0.10
solid (mL)

Table 9.1: Volume of settleable solids in different samples.

Experiment B: Total Solids and Total Volatile Solids and Fixed Solids

Sewage Aerated Lake

Sample (Influent) (Effluent)
Volume of sample (mL) 25 25 25
Weight of empty porcelain
39.8949 50.6863 35.8740
dish, Wdish (g)
Weight of porcelain dish
63.8363 74.771 60.0023
with sample, Wsample (g)
Weight of porcelain dish
with sample after overnight 39.9390 50.759 35.8898
drying, Wdried (g)
Weight of porcelain dish
with dried sample after 39.9275 50.735 35.8858
ignition, Wignited (g)

Table 9.2: Weight of sample and porcelain under different stages of testing.

Sewage Aerated Lake

Sample (Influent) (Effluent)
Weight of sample (g) 23.9414 24.0847 24.1283
Total solids (mg/L) 1764 2908 632
Fixed solids (mg/L) 1304 1948 472
Volatile solids (mg/L) 460 960 160

Table 9.3: Total solids, fixed solids and volatile solids in different samples.
Experiment C: Suspended Solids – Total and Volatile

Sewage Aerated Lake

Sample (Effluent)
(Influent)
Volume of sample (mL) 50 10 75
Weight of empty
aluminium dish and glass 2.7901 2.7111 2.7707
fibre filter, Wdish,2 (g)
Weight of aluminium dish
and glass fibre filter with 2.8605 2.7801 2.7871
Sample after vaccum,
Wsample,2 (g)
Weight of aluminium dish
and glass fibre filter with
2.8300 2.7650 2.7850
sample after overnight
drying, Wdried,2 (g)
Weight of aluminium dish
and glass fibre filter with
2.8194 2.7432 2.7812
dried sample after
ignition, Wignited,2 (g)

Table 9.4: Weight of samples and aluminium dish under different stages of testing.

Sewage Aerated Lake

Sample (Effluent)
(Influent)
Weight of sample (g) 0.0704 0.069 0.0164
Total suspended solids (mg/L) 1596 2156 572
Fixed suspended solids (mg/L) 1172 1284 420
Volatile suspended solids
424 872 152
(mg/L)

Table 9.5: Total suspended solids, fixed suspended solids and volatile suspended solids in different
samples.

Sewage Aerated Lake

Sample (Effluent)
(Influent)
Total dissolved solids (mg/L) 168 752 60
Fixed dissolved solids (mg/L) 132 664 52
Volatile dissolved solids (mg/L) 36 88 8

Table 9.6: Total dissolved solids, fixed dissolved solids and volatile dissolved solids in different
samples.
Calculations :
CALCULATION FOR TOTAL SOLIDS, FIXED SOLIDS AND VOLTILE SOLIDS.
Total solids (mg/L) = [ (Wdried (g) – Wpot (g)) / (Volume of sample (L)) ] / (1000 mg / 1 g)
Fixed solids (mg/L) = [ (Wignited (g) – Wpot (g)) / (Volume of sample (L)) ] / (1000 mg / 1 g)
Volatile solids (mg/L) = [ (Wdried (g) – Wignited (g)) / (Volume of sample (L)) ] / (1000 mg / 1 g)

CALCULATION FOR TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS, FIXED SUSPENDED SOLIDS AND

VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS.
Total suspended solids (mg/L) = [ (Wdried (g) – Wdish (g)) / (Volume of sample (L)) ] / (1000 mg
/ 1 g)
Fixed suspended solids (mg/L) = [ (Wignited (g) – Wdish (g)) / (Volume of sample (L)) ] / (1000
mg / 1 g) ]
Volatile suspended solids (mg/L) = [ (Wdried (g) – Wignited (g)) / (Volume of sample (L)) ] /
(1000 mg / 1 g) ]
CALCULATION FOR TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS, FIXED DISSOLVED SOLIDS AND
VOLATILE DISSOLVED SOLIDS.
Total dissolved solids = Total solids – Total suspended solids
Fixed dissolved solids = Fixed solids – Fixed suspended solids
Volatile dissolved solids = Volatile solids – Volatile suspended solids

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