Name:______________________ Reg. No.

:______________
Solids Analysis
Experiment: Measurement of total solids, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and its
volatile and non-volatile fractions for the given aerobic sample sample.
Apparatus required: Silica crucibles, Desiccator, Drying oven, Muffle furnace, Analytical
balance.
Theory: “Total solids” is the term applied to the material residue left after evaporation of water
from the sample in a drying oven at a specified temperature. Total solids include “total
suspended solids,” the portion of total solids retained by a filter, and “total dissolved solids,” the
portion that passes through the filter. If a well-mixed sample evaporated in a weighed silica
crucible and dried to constant weight in an oven at 103 to 1050C, the increase in weight over that
of the empty crucible represents the total solids. Similarly, if a well mixed sample is filtered
through a standard fiber filter, and the filtrate is evaporated to dryness in a weighed silica
crucible and dried to constant weight at 103 to 1050C, the increase in weight represents the total
dissolved solids. If a well-mixed sample is filtered through a weighed standard glass-fiber filter
and the residue retained on the filter is dried to a constant weight at 103 to 1050C the increase in
weight of the filter represents the total suspended solids.
Procedure:
1. Take the initial weights of silica crucibles and record it along with the specific markings.
Similarly, number and take the initial weights of filter papers.
2. For estimation of total solids, take a known volume of well mixed sample in a pre-weighted
silica crucible.
3. For estimation of total dissolved solids and total suspended solids, filter a known volume of
well mixed sample through pre-weighted filter paper and collect the filtrate into a pre-weighted
silica crucible. The filter paper containing the suspended solids be transferred to another pre-
weighted silica crucible.
4. Dry the silica crucibles in drying oven at 103-1050C overnight. Cool in desiccator and take the
weight.
5. Fire the silica crucibles in muffle furnace at 500±50 C for 2 h.
6. Cool in desiccator and take the weight.

1
Record Your Observations:

Sample Sample Measurement Crucible Initial Weight Weight

volume related with No. Weight after after firing

Signature of Teaching Assistant

mL (g) drying in in Muffle
oven (g) Furnace
(g)
Aerobic Total Solids
Sludge

Total
Dissolved
solids
Total
Suspended
solids

Analysis of the Recorded Data/Observations:

Estimate the total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids and its volatile and non-
volatile fractions expressing all the concentrations in mg/L. Apply the necessary checks on the
analysis of the data.

Further Reading:

1. Chapter 25 dealing with Solids from Chemistry for Environmental and Engineering Science
by Clair N. Sawyer, Perry L. McCarty & Gene F. Parkin from Tata McGraw Hill India.
2. Chapter 2540 dealing with Solids from Standard Methods for Examination of Water and
Wastewater by APHA, AWWA & WEF from Water Environment Federation, USA