DETERMINATION OF SOLIDS

AIM

To determine Total Solids (TS), Total

Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended
Solids (TSS), Volatile Suspended Solids
(VSS) and Fixed Suspended Solids (FSS) in
the given water sample
 Relevant Indian Standard for Test :

IS 3025 (Part 15)- 1984: Method of Sampling

and Test (Physical and Chemical) for Water
and Wastewater : Total Residue (total Solids,
Dissolved and Suspended, First Revision.
 Introduction

Solids in waste water indicate the concentrations of

organic and inorganic constituents. The organic fraction
defines the pollution load of waste water and the
inorganic component determines its suitability for
irrigation or fish culture.
Classification
 Importance
1. TS determination (a) classifies wastewater as weak (around 350
mg/l), moderately strong (around 700 mg/l) and strong (around
1200 mg/l or more).
2. TSS (b) determine suitability of wastewater effluents for disposal
into inland surface waters.
3. Settlable SS determination (c) indicates the efficiency of primary
sedimentation. Based on this, whether primary sedimentation is
required or not and if required, detention time to be adopted for
PST design are decided.
 Importance
4. Volatile solids (settlable) (g) indicate the fraction of organic loading
of digesters, contributed by primary sludge from PST.
5. Non- settlable suspended solids (d) and non- settlable volatile
solids (f) indicate the pollutional load to be removed by
secondary treatment.
6. Total dissolved solids (inorganic) (k) indicate the suitability of
wastewater for irrigation and fish culture.
7. Total volatile solids (f+g+h) determination in sludge's is used for
designing organic lodgings of anaerobic digesters and also their
efficiency of VS reduction.
 Principle
Total solids are determined by evaporating a known
volume of the sample to dryness and weighing the
residue.

Dissolved solids are determined by filtering a known

volume of the sample, evaporating the filtrate to dryness
and weighing the residue.

Fixed solids are determined by volatilizing away all the

organic matter in a known volume of the sample and
weighing the residue.
APPARATUS REQUIRED
Crucibles,
100 ml measuring cylinder,
Filter papers (whatman No.40) and funnels with stand,
Imhoff cone (or 1000 ml measuring cylinder)
Hot air oven, Digital Weigh Balance.
Muffle furnace
 CHEMICALS REQUIRED
None
 Procedure of Solids Test
(Part A-Total Solids)
1. Weigh a clean and empty crucible (A)………………………
…….……W1 mg

2. Take a measured volume of the wastewater sample in (A) -25 ml

if the wastewater sample appears strong, 50 ml if it appears
moderately strong and 100 ml if it appears weak-and evaporate to
dryness in hot-air oven at 103˚ -105˚ C.

3. Cool the crucible to room temperature and weigh

………………….………...W2 mg

(W2  W1 (mg )  1000 (ml / l )

TS , mg / l 
Volume of sample taken (ml )
 Procedure of Solids Test
(Part B-Total Dissolved Solids)
1. Weigh a clean and empty crucible (B)……………………………..……W3
mg

2. Take a known volume of the sample, filter it through what man

filter paper No. 40 and collect the filtrate (B)
Evaporate the filtrate in (B) to dryness in a hot air oven at 103˚ C-
105˚ C

3. Cool the crucible to room temperature and

weigh……………………....W4 mg

(W4  W3 ) (mg )  1000 (ml / l )

TDS , mg / l 
Original volume of sample taken (ml )
 Procedure of Solids Test
(Part B-Total Suspended Solids, mg/l)

Total Suspended Solids = (TS-TDS) mg/l

 Procedure of Solids Test
(Part D- Total Volatile Solids & Total Fixed Solids)
1. Keep crucible (A) containing total solids residue in a muffle
furnace maintained between 550˚ C and 600˚ C for half an hour.
Inspect the dry ash in (A) if blank specks are seen, continue heating
until the ash is totally grey or whitish-grey.

2. Cool the crucible to room temperature and weigh………………..W5

mg
(W2  W5 (mg )  1000(ml / l )
TVS , mg / l 
Originalvolumeofsampletaken(ml )

(W5  W1 (mg )  1000 (ml / l )

TFS , mg / l 
Original volume of sample taken (ml )
 Procedure of Solids Test
(Part E- Total Dissolved Solids-Inorganic)
1. Keep crucible (B), containing dissolved solids residue, in a
muffle furnace maintained between 550˚ C and 600˚ C and
volatilize all the organic content.

2. Cool crucible (B) to room temperature and weigh………………W6

mg

(W6  W3 (mg )  1000 (ml / l )

TDS (inorganic ), mg / l 
Original volume of sample taken (ml )
 Procedure of Solids Test
(Part F- Settlable and Non-settlable Solids)
1. Take one liter of well mixed raw mixed raw wastewater in an
Imhoff cone and note the time.
2. Record ml of settled solids at intervals of 30 minutes (15
minutes if the settlement is fast).
3. At the end of 2 hours, siphon out the supernatant (to waste)
without disturbing the settled sludge
4. Weigh a clean and empty crucible(C)………………………….W7 ,mg
5. Flush out the settled sludge in the Imhoff cone completely,
using distilled water and collect it in crucible (C).
6. Keep the crucible (C)with sludge contents in a hot air oven
maintained between 103˚ and 105˚ C and evaporate to dryness.
7. Cool the crucible (C) to room temperature and weigh…………W8
mg
8. Settled Solids, mg/l = (W8-W7) mg/l
 Procedure of Solids Test
(Part F- Settlable and Non-settlable Solids)

Wettledlolids (mg / l )
Efficiencyofse dim entation%,   100
TSS (mg / l )
 Recommended Standards
Sr. Particulars Maximum BIS
No. permissible limit

1) Sewage effluents discharged into inland TSS, 30 mg/l 4764

surface waters,
2) Industrial effluents discharged into inland TSS, 100 mg/l 2490
surface waters.

3) Industrial effluents falling into marine TSS, 100 mg/l 7968

coastal areas.
4) Inland surface waters to be used on land for TDS, 2100 mg/l 2296
irrigation (Inorganic)
 Revision
Crucible A Total Soild
W1 – Empty Crucible
Oven Dry sample W2
W2-W1 = Total Solids

Volatalize in Muffle furnace W5

W2-W5 = TVS
W5-W1 = TFS

Crucible B Total Dissolved Soild

W3 – Empty Crucible
Oven Dry sample W4
W4-W3 = Total Dissolved Solids (Organic)

Volatalize in Muffle furnace W6

W6-W3 = TDS (Inorganic)