CENTRE FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES

DIPLOMA OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

LABORATORY INSTRUCTION SHEETS

COURSE CODE DAK 23503

EXPERIMENT CODE EXPERIMENT 3

EXPERIMENT TITLE DETERMINATION OF TURBIDITY

DATE
(INDIVIDUAL REPORT)

STUDENT NAME &

MATRIC NO. & SIGNATURE

INSTRUCTOR Ts. Dr. Hazlini Binti Dzinun

DATE OF REPORT SUBMISSION 1 WEEK AFTER EXPERIMENT DATE

Element Percentage
(%)
Attendance/Participation/Discipline /5
Procedure /10
Results & Calculation /10
Analysis /20
MARKS:
Discussion /20
Answer question /20
Conclusion /10
References /5
Total /100

RECEIVED DATE AND STAMP: EXAMINER COMMENTS:

 FACULTY: CENTRE FOR
EDITION: 1
DIPLOMA STUDIES
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
REVISION NO: 0
LABORATORY DAK 23503

EXPERIMENT: EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/2/2016

DETERMINATION OF pH AMENDMENT DATE: 10/10/2019

1.0 OBJECTIVE OF EXPERIMENT

To determine the turbidity of the given wastewater sample using Nephelometer in NTU.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this course students are able to be more proficient at performing turbidity
determination of the wastewater sample.

3.0 INTRODUCTION / THEORY

3.1 Turbidity is the technical term referring to the cloudiness of a solution and it is a qualitative
characteristic which is imparted by solid particles obstructing the transmittance of light
through a water sample. Turbidity often indicates the presence of dispersed and suspended
solids like clay, organic matter, silt, algae and other microorganisms.

3.2 Turbidity is based on the comparison of the intensity of light scattered by the sample under
defined conditions with the intensity of the light scattered by a standard reference
suspension under the same conditions. The turbidity of the sample is thus measured from
the amount of light scattered by the sample taking a reference with standard turbidity
suspension. The higher the intensity of scattered light the higher is the turbidity. Formazin
polymer is used as the primary standard reference suspension.

4.0 INSTRUMENTS / APPARATUS / CHEMICAL / REAGENTS

4.1 Chemicals / Reagents

Hexamethylenetetramine, Hydrazine sulphate, Distilled water

4.2 Apparatus / Instruments

i. Turbidity Meter
ii. Sample cells
iii. Standard flask
iv. Funnel
v. Washed bottle
vi. Tissue paper
 FACULTY: CENTRE FOR
EDITION: 1
DIPLOMA STUDIES
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
REVISION NO: 0
LABORATORY DAK 23503

EXPERIMENT: EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/2/2016

DETERMINATION OF pH AMENDMENT DATE: 10/10/2019

5.0 PROCEDURE

5.1 Preparation of Reagents

Please prepare the reagents required for calibration using standard method.

5.2 Calibration of the Instruments

Using the standard solutions calibrate the instrument.

5.3 Testing of Samples

a) To the sample cells, add sample water up to the horizontal mark, wipe gently with soft tissue
and place it in the turbidity meter such that the vertical mark in the sample cell should coincide
with the mark in the turbidity meter and cover the sample cell.
b) Check for the reading in the turbidity meter. Wait until you get a stable reading.

5.4 Sample Handling and Preservations

5.4.1 Sample Preservations

Water samples should be collected in plastic cans or glass bottles. All bottles must be cleaned
thoroughly and should be rinsed with turbidity free water. Volume collected should be sufficient to
insure a representative sample, allow for replicate analysis (if required), and minimize waste
disposal. No chemical preservation is required. Keep the samples at 4°C. Do not allow samples
to freeze. Analysis should begin as soon as possible after the collection. If storage is required,
samples maintained at 4°C may be held for up to 48 hours.

5.4.2 Precautions

The following precautions should be observed while performing the experiment:

a) The presence of coloured solutes causes measured turbidity values to be low.

Precipitation of dissolved constituents (for example, Fe) causes measured turbidity values
to be high.
b) Light absorbing materials such as activated carbon in significant concentrations can cause
low readings.
c) The presence of floating debris and coarse sediments which settle out rapidly will give low
readings. Finely divided air bubbles can cause high readings.
 FACULTY: CENTRE FOR
EDITION: 1
DIPLOMA STUDIES
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
REVISION NO: 0
LABORATORY DAK 23503

EXPERIMENT: EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/2/2016

DETERMINATION OF pH AMENDMENT DATE: 10/10/2019

6 RESULTS CALCULATIONS

6.1 Results
Table 1: pH of greywater sample

Sample No Temperature of Turbidity (NTU)

sample (oC)

7.0 ANALYSIS

Please fill in the Table 1 and explain your findings on the turbidity of the collection sample.

8.0 DISCUSSIONS

Compare the turbidity values of different sample and state the systematic bias error that could
occur during this experiment.

9.0 ADVANCED QUESTIONS

a) Where do you find the adverse effects of turbidity in environmental engineering?

b) Discuss the significance of determination of turbidity for greywater in wastewater treatment.
c) Discuss the nature of materials causing turbidity in
i) River water during flash flood
ii) Polluted river water
iii) Domestic wastewater.

10.0 CONCLUSION

Conclusion is merely a summary, presented in logical order, of the important findings already
reported in the discussion section. It also relates to the objectives stated earlier.