DCC40172: Structure, Hydraulics and Water Quality Laboratory

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

POLITEKNIK PORT DICKSON
Km 14, Jalan Pantai, 71050 Si Rusa, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Tel : 06-662 2000 / 2111 Faxs : 06-662 2026 / 2027

WATER QUALITY LABSHEET

EXPERIMENT 4 : JAR TEST
A. OBJECTIVES

To determine the optimum dose of coagulant for specific water.

B. THEORY

Chemical Coagulation and Flocculation are important processes, used prior to Sedimentation, to increase
solids removal within a Drinking Water Treatment Plant. Much of the suspended matter in water is colloidal in
nature. Colloidal suspended particles cannot be removed by gravity sedimentation alone as they are
negatively charged and repulsion of particles from one another keeps them in solution. The most common
method of removing them is the combined treatments of Coagulation and Flocculation followed by
Sedimentation. A chemical coagulant is added to a solution to suppress the charge on the particles and allow
flocculation to occur. Flocculation is the process of colloidal particles colliding and forming larger particles
which are susceptible to gravitational forces and can thus be settled out.

The laboratory test commonly used for determining the approximate dosage of a particular chemical that is
required for treatment is called the "jar test". The water to be tested is placed in jars or beakers. Various
amounts of chemicals are put into the jars, and the ingredients are stirred to cause the formation of the floc.
The floc is then allowed to settle in each jar, and the jar in which the least amount of chemical produced a
good settleable floc is chosen as the one with the most economical dosage. Normally this dosage would then
be used in the column test. However, due to time limitations, a coagulant dosage for the column test has
already been prescribed in this lab. A settling column analysis is commonly performed to evaluate the %
removal vs. depth of settling tank as this relationship is non-linear and thus difficult to describe
mathematically.

C. APPARATUS & MATERIAL

Apparatus

1. Volumetric flask (1,000 mL)

2. Analytical balance
3. Coagulants and coagulant aids
4. Magnetic stirrer (optional)
5. A stirring machine with six paddles capable of variable speeds from 0 to 100 revolutions per minute
(RPM)
6. Beakers (1,000 mL)
7. Pipets (10 mL)
8. Watch or clock
9. turbidity meter and sample tubes

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 DCC40172: Structure, Hydraulics and Water Quality Laboratory

D. PROCEDURE

1. Decide on six dosages of the chemical(s).

You should use the chemicals in use at the treatment plant you visit. These chemicals may include
coagulants, coagulant aids, and lime.
The dosages should be in a series with the lowest dosage being lower than the dosage currently
used in the plant and the highest dosage being higher than the dosage currently used in the plant.
Insert the six dosages into your data sheet.
If pre-lime has to be fed, it is usually best to hold the amount of lime constant and vary the coagulant
dosage.
Prepare a stock solution of the chemical(s).
It is not necessary to know the purity (strength) of the chemicals you use since the strength will be
the same for plant operation. All results of the jar tests are in parts per million or milligrams per liter.
(1 ppm = 1 mg/L).
You will need to prepare a stock solution for each type of chemical used. The strength of the stock
solution will depend on the chemical dosages which you decided to use in step 1. The table below
shows what strength stock solution you should prepare in each circumstance.

Approximate dosage Stock solution concentration, 1 mL added to 1 L sample

required, mg/L mg/L equals

1-10 mg/L 1,000 mg/L 1 mg/L

10-50 mg/L 10,000 mg/L 10 mg/L

50-500 mg/L 100,000 mg/L 100 mg/L

For example, if all of your dosages are between 1 and 10 mg/L, then you should prepare a stock solution
with a concentration of 1,000 mg/L. This means that you could prepare the stock solution by dissolving
1,000 mg of the chemical in 1 L of distilled water. However, this would produce a much larger quantity
of stock solution than you need and would waste chemicals. You will probably choose instead to
dissolve 250 mg of the chemical in 250 mL of distilled water.

Once you decide on the strength and volume of stock solution to prepare, the procedure is as follows:
i) Weigh out the proper quantity of the chemical using the analytical balance.
ii) Measure out the proper quantity of distilled water in the volumetric flask.
iii) Add the chemical to the distilled water.
iv) Mix well. If lime is used, it is best to use a magnetic stirrer since lime is not completely soluble
in water. In other cases, magnetic stirrers can still be useful.

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 DCC40172: Structure, Hydraulics and Water Quality Laboratory

2. Place the beaker under each stirring paddle

3. Place into each beaker exactly 1000ml of fresh sample of the raw water.

4. Using a measuring pipette, add the coagulant in increasing amount of 10 mL, 20 mL, 30 mL, etc. to each
successive beaker, simultaneously, except one as a reference.

5. Start stirring rapidly (60 to 80 rpm) for one minute

6. Reduce the speed (10 to 30 rpm) for about 30 minutes.

7. After the stirring period is over, stop the stirrer and allow the flocs to settle for about 10 minutes

8. Pipet 10 mL of clearer sample from each beaker and measure its turbidity using turbidity meter. Turbidity
measurement:

 Connect the probe to the instrument.

 Turn the instrument, press ON for 2 seconds.

 Select MEAS, then press ENTER/ON

 Place the instrument in the water sample

 Select START, then press ENTER/ON

9. Plot a graph of turbidity versus coagulant dose. And determine the most effective dose of coagulant that
gives the least turbid results.

E. RESULTS
Fill in your data to the table below.

Time to Turbidity
pH Turbidity first pH
Dose Coagulant
Jar # (Before) floc (NTU)
(ml) [mg/L] (NTU) (After)
(After)
(Before)

1 1

2 2

3 4

4 6

5 10

6 0

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 DCC40172: Structure, Hydraulics and Water Quality Laboratory

Formula coagulant dose

M1V1 =M2V2
M1 = coagulant concentration
V1 = coagulant Volume
M2 = coagulant dose
V2 = volume sample + coagulant volume
10000Mg/L x 10 mL = M2 (1000mL + 10 mL)
M2 = ……….. mg/L

Plot a graph of turbidity versus coagulant dose and determine the optimum dose.

F. CALCULATION

G. DISCUSSION

Identify is the optimum dosage of alum suitable for eliminating turbidity.

Interpret the important of jar test.
Discuss precautions to be taken in handling the apparatus.

H. CONCLUSION

I. REFERENCES

J. APPENDIX

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