PRACTICAL REPORT

CHE 790 – PRACTIACL AND FIELDWORK

EXPERIMENT THREE
TOTAL SOLIDS, TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS AND TOTAL SUSPENDED
SOLIDS IN WATER AND WASTEWATER SAMPLES

ON
17 – 01 – 2013
BY
OKUNNUWA SEGUN O.
165904
GROUP 28
ENVIRONMENTAL (ACADEMIC) UNIT
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATOR
DR. ALABI
SUBMISSION DATE: JAN., 2013
 TOTAL SOLIDS, TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS AND TOTAL SUSPENDED
SOLIDS IN WATER AND WASTEWATER SAMPLES

Introduction
Analytical parameter
Solids:
• Dissolved
• Suspended
• Total
Container- Polyethylene, PTFE or glass
Typical volume (mL) 500
Sampling and transport- Transport under ice. Fill container to exclude air.
Preservation ----------------------------------------------------
Maximum holding time- 7 days Refrigerate (< 6°C)

Total Solids (TS) are the total of all solids in a water sample. Total Solids are found in
streams in two forms, suspended and dissolved. Total Suspended Solids, (TSS) are the
amount of filterable solids in a water sample. Samples are filtered through a glass fiber filter.
Suspended solids include silt, stirred-up bottom sediment, decaying plant matter, or sewage-
treatment effluent. Suspended solids will not pass through a filter, whereas dissolved solids
will. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are those solids that pass through a filter with a pore size
of 2.0 micron. or smaller. Dissolved solids in freshwater samples include soluble salts that
yield ions such as sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), bicarbonate (HCO3–),
sulphate (SO42– ), or chloride (Cl–). Total dissolved solids, or TDS, can be determined by
evaporating a pre-filtered sample to dryness, and then finding the mass of the dry residue per
litre of sample.

A second method uses a Vernier Conductivity Probe to determine the ability of the dissolved
salts and their resulting ions in an unfiltered sample to conduct an electrical current. The
conductivity is then converted to TDS. Any change in the ionic composition between testing
sites in a stream can quickly be detected using a Conductivity Probe. TDS values will change
when ions are introduced to water from salts, acids, bases, hard-water minerals, or soluble
gases that ionize in solution. Vernier Conductivity Probes will not give the specific ion
responsible for the increase or decrease in TDS. They simply give a general indication of the
level of dissolved solids in the stream or lake. Either of these methods yields a TDS value in
units of mg/L.

The TDS concentration in a body of water is affected by many different factors. A high
concentration of dissolved ions is not, by itself, an indication that a stream is polluted or
unhealthy. It is normal for streams to dissolve and accumulate fairly high concentrations of
ions from the minerals in the rocks and soils over which they flow. If these deposits contain
salts (sodium chloride or potassium chloride) or limestone (calcium carbonate), then
significant concentrations of Na+, K+, Cl– will result, as well as hard-water ions, such as Ca2+
and HCO3– from limestone.

Sources of ions
There are many possible manmade sources of ions that may contribute to elevated TDS
readings. Fertilizers from fields and lawns can add a variety of ions to a stream. Increases in
TDS can also result from runoff from roads that have been salted in the winter. Organic
matter from wastewater treatment plants may contribute higher levels of nitrate or phosphate
ions. Treated wastewater may also have higher TDS readings than surrounding streams if
urban drinking water has been highly chlorinated. Irrigation water that is returned to a stream
will often have higher concentrations of sodium or chloride ions. Acidic rainwater, with
dissolved gases like CO2, NO2, or SO2, often yields elevated H+ ion concentrations.
Sources of Total Dissolved Solids
• Hard-Water Ions; Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3–
• Fertilizer in agricultural runoff; NH4+, NO3–, PO43–, SO42–
• Urban runoff; Na+, Cl–
• Salinity from tidal mixing, minerals, or returned irrigation water; Na+, K+, Cl–
• Acidic rainfall; H+, NO3–, SO32–, SO42–

Effect of high level of TDS

If TDS levels are high, especially due to dissolved salts, many forms of aquatic life are
affected. The salts act to dehydrate the skin of animals. High concentrations of dissolved
solids can add a laxative effect to water or cause the water to have an unpleasant mineral
taste. It is also possible for dissolved ions to affect the pH of a body of water, which in turn
may influence the health of aquatic species. If high TDS readings are due to hard-water ions,
then soaps may be less effective, or significant boiler plating may occur in heating pipes.
Total solids affect water clarity. Higher solids decrease the passage of light through water
thereby slowing photosynthesis by aquatic plants. Water will heat up more rapidly and hold
more heat, this, in turn, might adversely affect aquatic life that has adapted to a lower
temperature regime.

Expected Levels of TDS

TDS values in lakes and streams are typically found to be in the range of 50 to 250 mg/L. In
areas of especially hard water or high salinity, TDS values may be as high as 500 mg/L.
Drinking water will tend to be 25 to 500 mg/L TDS. United States Drinking Water
Standards1 include a recommendation that TDS in drinking water should not exceed 500
mg/L TDS. Fresh distilled water, by comparison, will usually have a conductivity of 0.5 to
1.5 mg/L TDS. According to Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules (1997), potable
water should not contain more than 1000mg/L of total dissolved solids (TDS).

Environmental Significance
The total solids (TS) contents of wastewater are used in the design and process control of
wastewater treatment facilities. Total dissolved solids (TDS) are used to evaluate the
suitability of water for both domestic supplies and industrial purposes. The total suspended
solids (TSS), including the volatile fraction (VSS), are commonly monitored to evaluate the
degree of pollution in the natural waters and serves as a key process control parameter for
wastewater treatment operation.
Table 1: TDS in Selected Rivers
AIM
To determine total solids, total dissolved solids and total suspended solids in Saint Annes
river water.

PRINCIPLE
A well mixed sample is filtered through a standard glass fiber filter, and the filtrate is
evaporated to dryness in a weighed dish and dried to constant weight at 1790C – 1810C. The
increase in dish weight represents the total dissolved solids. A well mixed sample is filtered
through a weighed standard glass fiber filter and the residue retained on the filter is dried to
constant weight at 1030C – 1050C. The increase in weight of the filter represents the total
suspended solids. If the suspended material clogs the filter and prolongs filtration, the
difference between the total solids and total dissolved solids may provide an estimate of the
total suspended solids.

Collection and Storage of Samples

Sample was collected from the stream along saint Annes in University of Ibadan. A 2000 ml
water sample was sampled. The water sample was obtained from below the surface of the
water as far away from shore as is safe.
The tests were conducted in the laboratory.

Materials / Apparatus
Sampling bottles
Drying oven
One 600 ml beaker for filtration container
100 ml graduated cylinder
Large funnel (>10 cm diameter)
250 ml flasks
Filter paper to fit large funnel
Milligram balance (0.001 g)
Tongs to hold crucibles
Desiccator

Testing Procedure for TDS and TSS

A weighed dry filter paper was moistened with distilled water, dried and reweighed.
A clean crucible was dried in the oven for an hour, cool in desiccators and weighed.
Solid particles or suspended solids were filtered from the water sample.
50ml of the filtrate was transferred into a dried and weighed empty crucible and evaporated
in the oven at 1050C to a constant weight
The crucible was removed from the oven and allowed to cool in a desiccator.
The crucible was reweighed with the residue to calculate the total dissolved solids
The filter paper was also dried to a constant weight and reweighed to determine the total
suspended solids.
Testing Procedure for TS
The water samples were used unfiltered.
A clean crucible was dried in the oven for an hour, cool in desiccators and weighed
100ml of sample was added to the carefully cleaned, dried, and weighed crucible.
The water was then evaporated in a drying oven at 1050C.
The difference in mass between the two weighings gave the mass of the total solids.
Calculations were then performed to convert the change in mass to mg/L of TS.

PRECAUTION
Care was taken not to let the level of liquid in the funnel go above the top of the filter paper.
Samples were dried for a longer period of time, cooled under proper desiccation and
reweighed rapidly in order to achieve a reasonable constant weight.
Volume of samples were adjusted to have residue left after drying.
The crucibles were weighed as soon as they have cooled to avoid absorption of moisture.
The lid of the desiccators was not left off for a prolong time.

CALCULATIONS
Total Solids, TS (mg/L)
mg of solid ∈crucible x 1000
Total Solids, TS (mg/L) ==
volume of sample

Table for Total Solids

Column A B C D E F
Crucible (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
Number Mass of Mass of Mass of Mass of Total Total TS
empty Crucible solids solids volume volume (mg/L)
Crucible plus (g) (mg) (ml) (L)
(g) solids
(g)

1. 80.6080 80.8997 0.2917 291.7 100 0.1 2917

Column Procedure:
A. Mass of empty Crucible
B. Mass of Crucible with dried solids
C. Mass of solids (g) = B – A
D. Mass of solids (mg) = C✕1000
E. Total volume (ml)
F. Total volume (L) = ml water / 1000
G. TS = D / E

Total dissolved Solids, TDS (mg/L)

mg of solids∈crucible x 1000
Total dissolved Solids, TDS (mg/L) =
volume of sample
Table for Total Dissolved Solids
Column A B C D E F
Crucible (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
Number Mass of Mass of Mass of Mass of Total Total TDS
empty Crucible solids solids volum volume (mg/L)
Crucible plus solids (g) (mg) e (L)
(g) (g) (ml)

2. 44.3709 44.4667 0.0958 95.8 50 0.05 958

Column Procedure:
A. Mass of empty Crucible
B. Mass of Crucible with dried solids
C. Mass of solids (g) = B – A
D. Mass of solids (mg) = C✕1000
E. Total volume (ml)
F. Total volume (L) = mL water / 1000
G. TS = D / E
Total Suspended Solids, TSS (mg/L)
Total Suspended Solids, TSS (mg/L) = TS (mg/L) – TDS (mg/L)
Alternatively, TSS can be calculated as in the table below;
Table for Total Suspended Solids
BCDEF
Filter (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
Number Mass of Mass of Mass of Mass of Total Total TSS
Conditioned Filter solids solids volume volume (mg/L)
Filter plus (g) (mg) (ml) (L)
(g) solids
(g)

1. 0.6630 0.6700 0.0070 7.0 100 0.1 70

Column Procedure:
A. Mass of Conditioned dried filter paper
B. Mass of Filter with dried solids
C. Mass of solids (g) = B – A
D. Mass of solids (mg) = C✕1000
E. Total volume (ml)
F. Total volume (L) = mL water / 1000
G. TS = D / E

RESULT
The Total Solids (TS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) of
Saint Annes river, University of Ibadan was found to be 2917mg/L, 958mg/L and 70mg/L
respectively.

DISCUSSION
TDS values in Saint Annes river is higher than that in lakes and streams which are typically
found to be in the range of 50 to 250 mg/L. In areas of especially hard water or high salinity,
TDS values may be as high as 500 mg/L. Drinking water will tend to be 25 to 500 mg/L
TDS. United States Drinking Water Standards1 include a recommendation that TDS in
drinking water should not exceed 500 mg/L TDS. According to Bangladesh Environment
Conservation Rules (1997), potable water should not contain more than 1000mg/L of total
dissolved solids (TDS). The Total dissolved Solids (958mg/L) of Saint Annes river water is
still within this range.

The Total Dissolved Solids value was above the WHO and USEPA permissible limit of
500mg/L and maximum value of 1 500mg/L. Total Suspended Solids value was within the
permissible limit of WHO and USEPA. For irrigation purpose, the TDS value was found to
be below the permissible limit of 2 000mg/L.

One major contributing factor to the values of these solids is the construction work currently
going on in the river.

CONCLUSION
With the high values of solids in Saint Annes river as at the moment is not safe for drinking
purposes. It is also very poor for domestic purposes apart from using it to flush toilets.

REFERENCES
The complete Water Quality with Vernier lab manual includes 16 water quality tests and
essential teacher information. Retrieve on 3rd Feb. 2013 from
http://www.vernier.com/cmat/wqv.html

American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation. 1998. Standard
methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Saaociation,
Washington, D. C.

Kerri, k. D. 1998. Operation of wastewater treatment plants; California State University:

Sacramento..