EXPERIMENT 1: TOTAL SOLIDS (TS)

EXPERIMENT 2: SUSPENDED SOLIDS (SS)

EXPERIMENT 3: VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS (VSS)

1. OBJECTIVES
a. To determine the total solids that remain when a water sample is completely
evaporated in an evaporating dish
b. To determine the suspended solids based on filtration through a glass-fiber disk.
c. To analyse the volatile suspended solids that determine the weight of solid
materials combustible at 550°C.

2. RESULTS
a. Total solids (TS)
A Weight of evaporating dish + remaining 21.3874 g
solids
B Weight of empty evaporating dish 21.8868 g
C Volume of water sample used 5 ml

Total Solid (TS) A-B

×106 = mg/l
C
21.3874 g-21.8868 g
= ×106 =120 mg/l
5 ml

b. Suspended solids (SS)

A Weight of filter disk + solids 0.2475 g
B Weight of disk alone 0.2473 g
C Volume of water sample used 5 ml

Suspended A-B
×106 =mg/l
solids C
0.2475 g-0.2473 g
(SS) = ×106 =40 mg/l
5 ml
c. Volatile suspended solids (VSS)
A Weight of filter disk + solids before ignition 25.4045 g
B Weight of filter disk + solids after ignition 25.4031 g
C Volume of water sample used 5 ml

Suspended A-B
×106 =mg/l
solids C
25.4045 g-25.4031 g
(SS) = ×106 =280 mg/l
5 ml

Parameters Results Limit References

TS 120 mg/l 500 mg/l Water Environment
Partnership in Asia
(WEPA)
SS 40 mg/l 50 mg/l Suruhanjaya
Perkhidmatan Air Negara
(SPAN)
Department of
Environment (DOE)
VSS 280 mg/l 325 mg/l Suruhanjaya
Perkhidmatan Air Negara
(SPAN)
3. DISCUSSION

The three experiments was done to determine the total solids (TS), suspended solids (SS)
and volatile suspended solids (VSS). Total solids is the residue remaining after a wastewater
sample has been evaporated and dried at a specified temperature (103 to 105°C). Suspended
solids is portion of the TS retained on a filter with specified pore size, measured after being
dried at a specified temperature (105°C). While for volatile suspended solids is those solids
that can be volatilized and burned off when the TSS are ignited. The residue that remains after
TSS are ignited (500 ± 50°C).

For the determination of total solids, initially, the water sample was homogenized by
shaking the water container. Then, an empty evaporating dish was weighed. Next, 5 mL of the
water sample was measured using a graduated cylinder and was transferred into the
evaporating dish. After that, the water was evaporated off on the steam bath, and then dried
it off in the oven at 105°C for 30 minutes. After taking out from the oven, the evaporating dish
was let to cool in the desiccator for 10 minutes before weighing. Then the heating and cooling
process was repeated until a constant weight obtained. From that experiment, it was observed
that the weight of the evaporating dish increases from 21.3868 g to 21.3874 g due to the solids
left after the water sample being evaporated and dried. After making a calculation, the TS
obtained was 120 mg/l. By making a comparison with Water Environment Partnership in Asia
(WEPA), the total solids obtained from the experiment was below than the theoretical limit for
total solids by WEPA that is 500 mg/l.

For the determination of suspended solids, a filter disk was dried in the oven at 100 - 105°C
for 1 hour, and cooled in the desiccator for 10 minutes and weighed. Then, 5 ml of the water
sample was filtered using gentle suction. Next, the filter disk was carefully washed with 10 ml
of distilled water. After that, the disk was dried at 100 - 105°C for 1 hour and cooled in the
desiccator for 10 minutes and weighed. As a result, the suspended solids obtained was 40
mg/l. The experimental suspended solids was below from theoretical suspended solids that
provided by SPAN and DOE that is 50 mg/l.

For the determination of volatile suspended solids, the filter disk + solids that obtained in
experiment 2 was ignited at 550°C in the muffle furnace for half an hour. The filter disk + solids
then cooled in the desiccator for 10 minutes and weighed. Finally, the volatile suspended
solids obtained was 280 mg/l. Compared to the SPAN which has the volatile suspended solids
at 325 mg/l, the experimental one is much lower.
 In order to obtain an accurate result, some precaution steps need to be taken so that any
errors can be avoided. First, to prevent the particles staying on the apparatus, the apparatus
first must be rinsed with deionized water. Second, the sample need to mix well in order to get
a homogenous mixture.

4. CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the total solids, suspended solids and volatile suspended solids was
successfully determined. The total solids, suspended solids and volatile suspended solids
obtained was 120 mg/l, 40 mg/l and 280 mg/l respectively.

5. QUESTIONS
a. Total solids (TS)
i. What does Total Solids (TS) represent in sample of water and wastewater?
The residue remaining after a wastewater sample has been evaporated and
dried at a specified temperature (103-105°C).
ii. Explain the meaning of ‘weighing to constant mass’ and why it is an
important experimental procedure.
Weighing to constant mass means is to weigh a substance until the mass
of substance remains constant. This was done in order to obtain the weight
of materials accurately.

b. Suspended solids (SS)

i. How does SS affect water quality?
Suspended solids and dissolved colored material reduce water clarity by
creating an opaque, hazy or muddy appearance. Besides that, it also may
lead to aesthetic issues, higher costs of water treatment, a decline in the
fisheries resource, and serious ecological degradation of aquatic
environments. In terms of water quality, high levels of total suspended
solids will increase water temperatures and decrease dissolved oxygen
(DO) levels. This is because suspended particles absorb more heat from
solar radiation than water molecules will. This heat is then transferred to
the surrounding water by conduction. Warmer water cannot hold as much
dissolved oxygen as colder water, so DO levels will drop. In addition, the
increased surface temperature can cause stratification, or layering, of a
body of water. When water stratifies, the upper and lower layers do not mix.
As decomposition and respiration often occur in the the lower layers, they
 can become too hypoxic (low dissolved oxygen levels) for organisms to
survive.

c. Volatile suspended solids (VSS)

i. Differentiate between the terms ‘SS’ and ‘VSS’.
Suspended solids is portion of the TS retained on a filter with specified pore
size, measured after being dried at a specified temperature (105°C). While
for volatile suspended solids is those solids that can be volatilized and
burned off when the TSS are ignited. The residue that remains after TSS
are ignited (500 ± 50°C).
ii. Why is it necessary to use a glass-fibre disk, and not ordinary filter paper
for this experiment?
The use of glass-fibre disk is because glass-fibre disk have the
characteristics of fine porosity and 1.5 µm particle retention, made of 100%
borosilicate, depth filters with high particle loading capacity in order to retain
very high temperature up to 500°C.
6. REFERENCES
a. Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN). (n.d.). Sewage Characteristics
and Effluent Discharge Requirements. Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara,
National Water Services Commission. Cyberjaya, Malaysia: Suruhanjaya
Perkhidmatan Air Negara. Access on 25 March 2018 from
http://www.span.gov.my/files/MSIG/MSIGVol4/04_Sec._3_Sewage_Characteristi
cs_and_Effluent_Discharge_Requirements.pdf
b. Department of Environment (DOE). (2010 October). Environmental Requirements:
A Guide For Investors. 11th edition. 64. Putrajaya, Malaysia: Department of
Environment
c. Fonriest Environmental Inc. (2016). Fundamental of Environmental
Measurements: Turbidity, Total Suspended Solids & Water Clarity. fondriest.com.
USA: Fonriest Environmental Inc. Access on 25 March 2018 from
http://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-
quality/turbidity-total-suspended-solids-water-clarity/#
d. Bilotta GS, Brazier RE. (2008). Understanding the influence of suspended solids
on water quality and aquatic biota. PubMed.gov US National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health. UK: National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Access on 25 March 2018 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18462772
e. Thomas Scientific. (2018). Glass Fiber Filters. Thomas Scientific. US: Thomas
Scientific. Access on 25 March 2018 from https://www.thomassci.com/Laboratory-
Supplies/Filter-Paper/_/Glass-Fiber-Filters?q=Glass%20Fiber%20Filters
f. Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA). (n.d.). National Water Quality
Standards For Malaysia. WEPA. Japan: Water Environment Partnership in Asia.
Access on 25 March 2018 from http://www.wepa-
db.net/policies/law/malaysia/eq_surface.htm#
 CMT 565
WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNOLOGY

EXPERIMENT 1: TOTAL SOLIDS (TS)

EXPERIMENT 2: SUSPENDED SOLIDS (SS)
EXPERIMENT 3: VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS (VSS)

NAME NURUL HAIDAH BINTI RIZAL

STUDEND ID 2016328795
GROUP RAS2454C
GROUP 1. AHMAD FARAHI ADHWA BIN AHMAD ZAINI (2016524165)
MEMBERS 2. NURUL HIDAYAH BINTI ISHAK (2016535131)
DATE OF 14 MARCH 2018
EXPERIMENT
NAME OF PN. FARIDAH HANUM BINTI HJ BADRUN
LECTURER