Experiment 4- Turbidity and the Dissolve Oxygen

Introduction

Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual

particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air. The measurement
of turbidity is a key test of water quality. Turbidity is a measurement of how cloudy water
appears. Technically, it is a measure of how much light passes through water, and it is caused by
suspended solid particles that scatter light. These particles may be microscopic plankton, stirred
up sediment or organic materials, eroded soil, clay, silt, sand, industrial waste, or sewage. Bottom
sediment may be stirred up by such actions as waves or currents, bottom-feeding fish, people
swimming, or wading, or storm runoff. Clear water may appear cleaner than turbid water, but it
is not necessarily healthier. Water may be clear because it has too little dissolved oxygen, too
much acidity or too many contaminants to support aquatic life. Water that is turbid from plankton
has both the food and oxygen to support fish and plant life. However, high turbidity may be a
symptom of other water quality problems.

Water has many properties. One of its properties is its ability to dissolve many
substances. Because of this property, water is known as the universal solvent and is seldom
found pure in nature. In fact, natural waters may contain hundreds or even thousands of
chemicals, and in some cases, an equal number of biological life forms (such as
microorganisms). All forms of life depend on water. Water helps to dissolve chemicals in foods,
and then it transports these chemicals to cells in our bodies. However, sometimes harmful
substances can dissolve in water. Substances that harm the quality of water are known as
pollutants or contaminants. Most contaminants in water do not cause problems because they are
not toxic and are at such low amounts. However, some substances which dissolve in water, even
at very low levels, can be harmful.

In this experiment we will measure the DO reading to determine turbidity levels with the levels of
dissolve oxygen. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is essential to healthy streams and lakes. The dissolved oxygen
level can be an indication of how polluted the water is and how well the water can support aquatic plant
and animal life. Generally, a higher dissolved oxygen level indicates better water quality.
Objective

1. To demonstrate the relationship of turbidity level with coagulation process by using chemical
application.
2. To investigate the relationship of turbidity levels with the levels of dissolve oxygen.

Materials and Apparatus

3 beakers (1 liter), Stirrer, Tap water, Cement, Aluminium sulphate, Jar mixer, Evaporate dish,
Electronic Balance.

Safety measures and Limitations

1. Check the equipment before using it and handle it with caution.

2. Gently relocate the breaker to the jar mixer.
3. Wear lab coat, long pant and shoe before enter the laboratory.

Procedure
1. 3 beakers (1 liter) is prepared.
2. One liter water is added to each beaker.
3. 20g of cement is added to each beaker.
4. The DO meter readings are measured by using DO meter from each beaker.
5. Three beakers are named as beaker 1, beaker 2, and beaker 3 and placed in jar mixer to
stir for 5 minutes.
6. 0.4g aluminium sulphate is added to beaker 2.
7. 0.6g aluminium suplhate is added to beaker 3.
8. Three beakers are place in jar mixer to stir for 5 minutes again.
9. Three beakers are left it on the table for 10 minutes to settle down.
10. The DO meter reading are measured by using DO meter from each beaker.
11. Three evaporating dish is weight.
12. 10ml sample from each beaker are extracted into the evaporating dish.
13. Three evaporating dish is placed into the oven for 1 hours.
14. Three evaporating is weight again.
15. All data are record.
Figure 1.0: 20g Cement poured to the beaker Figure 2.0 Cement with 1liter of water.

Figure 3.0: Beakers is placed in Jar mixer Figure 4.0: DO meter

Figure 5.0: Aluminium Sulphate Figure 6.0: 20g Cement is weighted.

Result

Dissolved Oxygen Reading

Before adding alum After adding Alum

Blank 15.3 18.7
0.4g of Aluminium Sulphate 15.4 17.4
0.6g of Aluminium Sulphate 15.9 15.5

Weight of
Evaporating Evaporating Sample(g) Evaporating Sample (g)
dish (g) dish + dish after 1
sample(g) hour (g)

Blank 51.97 61.48 9.51 52.8 0.83

0.4g of 56.14 65.6 9.46 56.8 0.66
Aluminium
Sulphate
0.6g of 35.13 44.8 9.67 36.2 1.07
Aluminium
Sulphate

Discussion

In this experiment, three different beakers with 20g cement is prepared and different
amount of alum is added to the beaker. After the solution is well mixed by using jar mixer, the
dissolved oxygen level in the water is taken. The result show respectively 18.7, 17.4, and 15.5 by
using the DO meter. From the result, it shows that the more alum we added to the solution, the
lower the dissolved oxygen level in the solution. However, theoretically the more alum is added
the higher the dissolved oxygen level because alum act as a catalyst that increase the ability of
water to accept oxygen from the atmosphere. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is essential to healthy streams
and lakes. The dissolved oxygen level can be an indication of how polluted the water is and how well the
water can support aquatic plant and animal life. Generally, a higher dissolved oxygen level indicates
better water quality. The amount of oxygen in water is a good indicator of water quality and of the
kinds of life it will support. Water with an oxygen content above 6 parts per million (ppm) will
support game fish and other desire\able forms of aquatic life. Water with less than 2 ppm oxygen
will support mainly worms, bacteria, fungi and other detritus feeders and decomposers.

After the solution settle down for 10 minutes, the alum will naturalize the layer
surrounding the cement and allow the cement particle to bind together and form large particle
which will make the particle to settle down easily in a shorter time. After that, 10 ml of the
solution is extracted from the beaker, make sure dont shake the solution while extracting the
solution. From the result, we found that the particle left in the sample from 3 different beaker is
0.83, 0.66, and 1.07g. Theoretically, the higher the alum added in the solution the lower particle
left of the sample. From the result we obtain, at 0.6g alum added solution is higher than others.
Therefore, there are few error may occurred in this experiment that caused the inaccurate of the
result we obtain such as the when we accidentally extract the bottom of the beaker. Besides that,
It also may cause by the solution didnt fully evaporated after 1 hours of evaporating in the oven.
We should use more sallow evaporating dish to increase the surface to evaporate in shorter time.

1. Plot the graph and explain the relationship of turbidity and chemical dosage level?

Graph of Turbidity against Chemical Dosage Level

From the graph, it show that the more the alum added, the lower the turbidity of the water. This
is because the alum will naturalize the layer surrounding the cement and allow the cement
particle to bind together and form large particle which will make the particle to settle down
easily in a shorter time.

2. Why turbidity will affect the dissolve oxygen level in the water?

Turbidity is the condition resulting from suspended solids in the water, including silts, clays,
industrial wastes, sewage and plankton. Such particles absorb heat in the sunlight, thus raising
water temperature, which in turn lowers dissolved oxygen levels. They also prevent sunlight
from reaching plants below the surface. This decreases the rate of photosynthesis, so less oxygen
is produced by plants. Turbidity may harm fish and their larvae. It is caused by soil erosion,
excess nutrients, various wastes and pollutants, and the action of bottom feeding organisms
which stir sediments up into the water.

3. Plot the graph and explain the relationship of turbidity and dissolve oxygen level?

Graph of dissolved oxygen against turbidity

From the graph, we are able to see that the more alum we added to the solution, the lower the
dissolved oxygen level in the solution. However, theoretically the more alum is added the higher
the dissolved oxygen level because alum act as a catalyst that increase the ability of water to
accept oxygen from the atmosphere.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the objective of the experiment was achieved successfully. Based on the
experiment that we have done, we are able to determine the relationship of turbidity level with
coagulation process by using chemical application. Besides that, we also investigate the relationship of
turbidity levels with the levels of dissolve oxygen. The more the higher the dosage level of
chemical, the lower the turbidity of the water.

Reference:

1. Water Quality. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2017, from

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/fenlewis/Waterquality.html
2. Turbidity - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2017, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbidity
3. Dissolved oxygen, from the USGS Water Science School: All about water. (n.d.).
Retrieved February 13, 2017, from https://water.usgs.gov/edu/dissolvedoxygen.html