SUSPENDED SOLIDS TEST PROCEDURES

A.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

i.

ii. iii. iv.

v.

vi.

Preparation of the glass fibre filter disc: Insert the filter disc onto the base and clamp on funnel. While vacuum is applied, wash the disc with three (3) successive 20 mL distilled water. Remove all traces of water by continuing to apply vacuum after water has passed through. Remove funnel from base and place filter in the dish and dry in an oven at 103 C - 105 C for one (1) hour. When needed, remove dish from the oven, desiccate and weight. Select a sample volume (max. of 200 mL) that will yield not more than 200 mg of total suspended solids. Place the filter on the base and clamp on funnel and apply vacuum. Wet the filter with small volume of distilled water to seal the filter against the base. Shake the samples vigorously and quantitatively transfer required volume (mL) of samples to the filter using a large orifis, volumetric pipette. Remove all traces of water by continuing to apply vacuum after samples has passed through. Rinse the pipette and funnel onto the filter with small volume of distilled water. Remove all traces of water by continuing to apply vacuum after samples has passed through. Carefully remove the disc filter from the base. Dry for at least one (1) hour at 103 C - 105 C. Cool in a desiccator and weigh.

B. Total Dissolved Solids

i.
ii. iii.

iv.

Preparation of evaporating dish: Ignite cleaned evaporating dish at 500 C 50 C for one (1) hour in muffle furnace. Store in desiccator until needed. Weigh immediately before use. Choose samples volume to yield between 2.5 and 200 mg dried residue. If more than 10 minutes are required to complete filtration, increase filter size or decrease sample volume. Stir samples with magnetic stirrer and pipet a measures volume onto glass-fibre filter with applied vacuum. Wash with three (3) successive 10 mL of distilled water, allowing complete drainage between washings, and continue suction for about 3 min after filteration complete. Transfer total filtrate (with washings) to a weighed evaporating dish and evaporate to dryness on a drying oven. Dry evaporated samples for at least 1 h in an oven at 180C 2C, cool in a desiccator to balance temperature, and weigh. Repeat drying cycle of drying, cooling, desiccating, and weighing until a constant weigh is obtained. (The filtrate from the total suspended solids determination may be used for determination of total dissolved solids).

C. Total Volatile Solids If volatile solids are to be measured, the residue from method A and B is ignited at 500 C 50 C for 15 minutes in a muffle furnace. Cool in desiccator to balance temperature and weigh. Repeat cycle of drying or igniting, cooling, desiccating, and weighing until a constant weight change less than 4% of the previos weighing or 0.5 mg, whichever is less. Store in desiccator until needed.