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LABORATORY EXPERIMENT # 7
Jar Test

 Objective
The purpose of this experiment is to see the effect of adding alum to wastewater.
By conducting a jar test in order to determine the optimum amount of alum needed for
each dosage of wastewater. A very small particles are normally known as colloids exist in
raw wastewater which have a size range of about 0.001 to 1 um that are too small to settle
by gravity in a reasonable time period and cannot be removed by simple filtration. Alum
is added to wastewater and used as a coagulant to alter the particle surfaces of colloids in
such a way as to permit them to stick together allowing the particles to get bigger so that
they can be removed by sedimentation or simple filtration.
 Methods:

1. Inflow Water Quality Test

Turbidity:

- Measurements of 3 Gelex standards were taken to assure the instrument was working
properly.

- Using an empty cell and inserting it into the cell compartment with the diamond side of
the cell facing the raising orientation marking the front. The lid was then closed to obtain
the results.

-Then 10 mL of water sample was added to the empty cell and the turbidity was recorded.
Aluminum:

- 2 cells were filled with effluent to the 10 mL mark. The left hand compartment of the
comparator had a cell which was used as a blank. The other cell had a combination of 1
Aluminum No. 1 tablet and 1 Aluminum No. 2 tablet which were crushed in the cell.

- Next, swirling the cell until the tablets are completely dissolved. Then waiting for 5
minutes for complete color reaction and place second cell in the right hand compartment
of the comparator. The two color fields were then matched and read off the results.
Results were ranged between 0 and .3 mg/L.

2. Jar Test Coagulation

- All the valves on the upper and lower panels were turned off.
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- 1 L of effluent sample was then added into each square beaker. The calculation for the
alum volume for each beaker was based on the assigned dose. The addition of 1 mL of
the alum stock solution into the effluent sample will yield a 1 mg/L dosage of alum.

- The mixing paddles were turned on starting with 1-2 minutes of rapid mixing at a rate
of 300 rpm followed by 20 minutes of slow mixing at 50 rpm.

- The samples then settled for another 20 minutes after stopping the paddles. The
approximate height of solids settled was recorded.

3. Column Filtration

- All the valves on the upper and lower panels were turned to filter allowing the water to
enter the column.

- 200 mL of filtrate effluent samples were then collected from the hook shaped copper
tube located on the bottom trough.

4. Outflow Water Quality Test

-The (Turbidity) of the effluent water was measured.

-The aluminum (concentration) of the effluent water was also measured. (Groups that
used high alum doses (2 – 25 mg/L) needed to dilute their sample.)

 List of given samples

Sample
Star City WWTP Effluent

 Results:
  Alum Dose, mg/L
Group Group Group Group Group
  Group 6
1 2 3 4 5
Parameter 0 2 8 15 20 25
Initial water turbidity 58 27 33 49 14 70
Initial aluminum concentration 0.1 0.1 0.15 0.18 0.15 0.12
Turbidity in effluent 5 2 3 3 4 10
Aluminum concentration in
0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 0 0.2
effluent
Table 1: Alum dose effects on turbidity for groups 1-6
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 Discussion

As seen in Table 1, Group 6 with an alum dose of 25 mg/L had the highest initial water
turbidity. Groups 2, 3 with an alum dose of 2 and 8 mg/L respectively had the same
amount of initial water turbidity. This could be due to human error in the experiment. It
also leads to other possible errors in this experiment which can be due to instrument error
from the turbidity meter during the initial and final readings. Other error includes
determinant in which groups did not wait the full 5 minutes for complete color reaction
during the Aluminum method. Lastly looking through this experiment to reduce turbidity
filtration would be the highest and more effective than any other step. Less turbidity
going into the filters means longer filter life which would results in better economical
solution.

 Questions

1) Which treatment has the most significant effect on reducing turbidity?

Coagulation has the most significant effect in the aspect of reducing turbidity. Which is a
process where the particles to stick to each other to be removed easier.

2) Recommend a dose for treatment of wastewater.

A sufficient dosage for the treatment of wastewater is 25.00 mg/L. Based on the data
collected the fact that since large quantities of water are treated on a daily bases so if the
cost of aluminum is too expensive alternative methods are to be considered.