American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Environmental Lab

Report # 6
(Softening)

Names URN: (University Registration Number)

Tamara al-Tawal 1310360

Submitted on: Day.Month.Year (5th of April 2017)

1 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3
Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Apparatus and Materials ................................................................................................................ 3
Procedure ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Results and Calculations ................................................................................................................ 3
Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 5
References ...................................................................................................................................... 5

2 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Introduction
Water softening is the removal of calcium, magnesium, and certain other metal cations in hard
water. The resulting soft water is more compatible with soap and extends the lifetime of
plumbing. Water softening is usually achieved using lime softening or ion-exchange resins.
There are as mentioned above two types of hardness that should be removed :
Calcium hardness there is the carbonate Ca(HCO3)2 and the non-carbonate CaSO4 and CaCl2
Also Magnesium hardness which is the carbonate Mg(HCO3)2 and the non-carbonate MgSO4
and MgCl2.

Objectives
The aim of this test is to remove the hardness of water and make it soft.

Apparatus and Materials

The materials and tools needed for this experiment:
1. A special Flocculation testing device.
2. A sample of hard water.
3. Doses of Lime and Soda Ash.
4. Timer.
5. Total hardness measuring apparatus.

Procedure
To conduct this experiment here are the steps that should be followed:
1. Calculate lime and Soda ash doses, as will be shown in the results and calculation
section later.
2. Add doses to the sample.
3. Rapid mix the sample for 2 minutes at an rpm of 100, this process is called Coagulation.
4. Then slow mix the sample for 15 minutes at an rpm of 20 to 30 to conduct Flocculation.
5. Allow the sample to settle for at least 30 minutes.
6. Take a portion from the supernatant, measure the total hardness and compare it with the
initial value, to see if it has been softened or not.

Results and Calculations

Calculate the doses of both lime and soda ash in milligrams needed for a 1 liter sample, it has
the following analytical properties:
Ca=200mg/l as CaCO3
Mg=100 mg/l as CaCO3
Alk=190 mg/l as CaCO3
CO2= 0.2meq/l

Convert all of the mg/l as CaCO3 to meq/l by dividing it by 50. thus

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 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Ca=4meq/l
Mg=2 meq/l
Alk=3.8 meq/l
CO2=0.2 meq/l

C Ca Mg
O
2 Alkalinity
=
Weight of lime = 40 + 2*16 + 2*1 = 74
Weight of Soda ash = 23*2 + 16*3 + 12 = 106

Doses needed:
Lime in meq/ l Soda ash meq/l
CO2 0.2 -
Ca-CH 3.8 -
Mg-CH 0 -
Mg-NCH 2 2
Ca-NCH - 0.2
Sum 6 2.2

Lime does = 6* 74/2 * 1 = 222mg

Soda ash does = 2.2* 53/2 * 1 = 117mg

Second Solution in mg/l as CaCO3

Ca=200mg/l as CaCO3
Mg=100 mg/l as CaCO3
Alk=190 mg/l as CaCO3
CO2= 0.2meq/l * 50 = 10mg/l as CaCO3
and :
Lime mg/l as CaCO3 Soda ash mg/l as
CaCO3
CO2 10 -
Ca-CH 190 -
Mg-CH 0 -
Mg-NCH 100 100
Ca-NCH - 10
Sum 300 110

Lime does = 300/50 * 74/2 = 222mg

Soda ash = 110/50 * 53/2 = 117mg

4 | www.aum.edu.jo
 American University of Madaba

AUM
Faculty of Engineering.
Department of Civil Engineering.

Spring Semester 2016-2017.

Discussion
We notice that both solutions have yielded the same answers in milligrams, meaning that both
ways are correct but they offer different approached.
Also these calculations are very important in the softening process so as to be know exactly how
much of the chemical products are needed to be added.

Conclusion
Finally, we can say that we have understood the process of water softening and its important,
along with the chemical compounds used to conduct such a process.

References
Lab manual paper.

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