Chemistry for Environmental Engineering and Science, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 26 - PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

26-1 Total solids in a liquid sample consist of total dissolved solids and total suspended solids.
The total dissolved solids represents all materials in the water that will pass through a
filter with a 2.0 µm or smaller nominal average pore size. The material retained on the
filter represent the total suspended solids.

26-2 (a) Total dissolved solids in municipal water supplies is of interest because water with
total-sollids content greater than 500 mg/L imparts taste to the water and sometimes
has a laxative and sometimes the reverse effect on some people. Such high solids
content water also tends to stain glassware and has adverse impacts on irrigated
crops, plants and grasses.

(b) Total and volatile suspended solids in domestic wastewater are of interest as such
solids can float and form unsightly scum layers or sink and cause sediment buildup
in rivers or streams, which is objectionable for several reasons.

(c) Total and volatile solids in sludge are of interest as they impact on the design and
operation of sludge digesters, vacuum filers, incineration units, and other sludge
disposal units.
(d) Settleable solids analysis is used extensively to determine the need for and design of
primary settling tanks for industrial wastewaters, and for determining the efficiency
of sedimentation units.

26-3 The organic content of a wastewater, of suspended solids, and of sludge.

26-4 (a) At this temperature most of the free water in a sample will be driven off, but change
in organic content and inorganic minerals will be minimal.

(b) In the determination of total dissolved solids analysis for water suppllies, a drying
temperature of 180oC is used as organic content is generally low and thus not
impacted by the higher temperature, and all mechanically occluded water is better
removed than at 103o or 105oC.

26-5 (a) 550oC is about the lowest temperature at which organic matter can be oxidized at ra
easonable speed.

26-1
 (b) At higher temperatures inorganic matter decomposition may be excessive. Also, at a
higher temperature glass fiber filters used in suspended solids analyses might melt.
At lower temperatures, organic oxidation may not be complete.

26-6 These organic compounds are volatilized and lost from the sample during drying, thus
erroneous results would be obtained concerning the total organic content of a sample.

26-7 Partially digested sludges can contain relatively high concentrations of volatile organic
acids and other short-chain organic compounds that are lost from the samples upon
drying. Thus erroneous results would be obtained concerning the total organic content of
the sample.

26-8 The filter should not be heated to a temperature higher than about 550oC as it will melt.

26-9 The volume of settleable material in a wastewater.

26-10 In order to prevent decrepitation of solids during combustion at 550oC or above, a

preliminary controlled firing of samples with a bunsen burner should be conducted to
destroy all flammable materials before placing the samples in the muffle furnace.

26-11 Samples should be evaporated to dryness first to remove all moisture and a total dissolved
solids analysis should be conducted. A preliminary controlled firing with a bunsen
burner should be conducted initially to prevent decrepitation during combustion at
550oC. A temperature of 550oC should be used for the combusion to insure rapid
oxidition of organic materials, but without excessive inorganic decomposition. Also,
this temperature will prevent melting of glass fiber filters if used. Caution must also be
applied in assuming volatile solids analysis indicates the total organic content of a
sample if volatile organic materials such as volatile acids, hydrocarbons, or alcohols are
present.

26-12 (a) Lower (convention currents lift pan)

(b) Lower (MgCO3 decomposes at 350oC)

(c) Lower (organics lost during initial drying at 103o to 180oC)

(d) Lower (CaCO3 as well as MgCO3 decomposes)

26-13 Volume = 0.65(350/50,000)(106 m3) = 4550 m3

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