EXPERIEMENT 1.

0 JAR TEST

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Jar testing is the test conducted to determine the amount of chemical dosage required and pH
to remove the small particulate from water and wastewater. Jar testing stimulates the process
of coagulation and flocculation at the water treatment plant. This help the operator to
observed and determine the suitable amount of chemical and the right pH to remove the
suspended solid. In Jar testing, there will be two test conducted. The first test is conducted to
determine the optimum pH while the second test conducted to determine the optimum dosage
of the chemical.
The first test will be conducted by preparing six sample of water with the same amount. Then,
then chemical with same amount will be added to the water sample. After that the pH value
will be adjust differently for each beaker then it will be stir for some moment. The second test
will undergo the same process but the dosage of the chemical added to the water sample will
be differently for each beaker while the pH will be constant.
According to the David Pask, former National Environmental Service Centre engineer wrote
By performing jar tests, you can try alternative treatment doses and strategies without
altering the performance of the full-scale treatment plant and easily compare the results of
several different chemical treatments for time of formation, floc size, settlement ability, and,
perhaps, filtration characteristics. One cannot make such comparisons with the full plants
treatment. Another reason to perform the jar test is this method is cost saving.
Suspended solid(particularly colloid) are often removed from water by chemical coagulation
and flocculation. Colloidal particles carry a small electrostatic charge that keeps them in
suspension. Coagulation is the addition of chemicals to neutralize the effect of colloidal
charges and allow aggregation of particles. Following coagulation the suspension is stirred
gently to promote particle collision and agglomeration in a process termed flocculation.
Colloidal matter in surface water can not settle by itself. Dosing of a coagulant and
subsequent flocculation, followed by sedimentation. The result of this treatment is depending
on many factors, such as coagulant dose, pH, reaction period and supplied energy of stirring
device. A jar test is ideal to assess the influence of these process parameters within a short
time.

1.2 OBJECTIVE
To determine the optimum alum dose and pH for suspended solids removal from water using
water Jar test.
1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Treatment of water in the treatment plant will cost high if the amount of alum is highly used.
Therefore it is important to determine the optimum dosage of alum and the optimum pH for
the optimum coagulation and flocculation process.
1.4 APPARATUS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Beakers.
Kaolin clay.
Alum solution.
Sulphuric acid.
Sodium Hydroxide.
Stirrer machine.
Turbidity reading.
Measuring cylinder.

1.5 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

DATA TABULATION

Beaker
1
2
3
4
5
6

1st reading

pH
4.18
5.12
6.07
7.16
8.00
9.08

12.56
0.45
0.10
4.64
5.57
1.15

Turbidity (NTU)
2nd reading
3rd reading
12.16
0.49
0.04
4.89
5.34
0.70

11.85
0.00
0.17
4.97
5.29
1.25

Average
Turbidity
(NTU)
12.19
0.31
0.10
4.83
5.40
1.03

SAMPLE CALCULATION
Turbidity measurement conversion: I FNU = 1 NTU
Beaker 1 (pH of 4.18):
Average Turbidity value

= ( 12.56 + 12.16 + 11.85 ) / 3

= 12.19 NTU

Beaker 2 (pH 0f 5.12):

Average Turbidity value

= ( 0.45 + 0.49 + 0.00 ) / 3

= 0.31 NTU

1.6 DISCUSSION
1. Plot graph of turbidity vs. pH and turbidity vs. alum dose. Get the optimum pH and alum
dose.

The graph is plotted and shown as in Figure 1 and 2. For the graph plotted, for the Jar Test for
optimum pH (dose constant), it is observed that at pH of 5.9, the turbidity of the solution is at
minimum which is 0.1 NTU. Thus, the optimum pH is 5.9. While, for the Jar Test for
optimum dosage (pH constant), it is observed that the turbidity is in minimum which is 0
NTU at two times. Firstly when the dosage of Al 2SO4 solution is 60 ml/l and secondly when
the dosage of Al2SO4 solution is 100 ml/l. For optimum dosage determination, it is always
preferred that the lower dosage of Al2SO4 solution is used in the water and wastewater
treatment as due to costing. Thus, in this experiment, the optimum dose for coagulation is
60ml/l. The minimum turbidity value would indicate that the coagulation and flocculation
process is happened at best as the solution coagulated and the flocs settled and causing the
solution to be in clear state.
2. Name some other chemicals that may be used as coagulants.
There are generally two main type of coagulant used in the field. Firstly is the primary
coagulant which function to neutralize the negatively charged particle which then causing the
particles to clump together to form the colloid. The most common coagulant is such as alum.
Secondly is the coagulant aid. Coagulant aid is function to add the density and toughness of
the flocs and causing them to settle faster and harder to break during the process of
sedimentation or mixing. This coagulant aid is only added for the purpose of time reduction
only and not usually required in normal coagulation process.
Primary Coagulant:
i.

Ferric Chloride - FeCl3.6H2O

ii.

Ferric Sulfate - Fe(SO4)3. 9H2O

iii.

Ferrous Sulfate - FeSO4. 7H2O

Coagulant Aid:

i.

Calcium Carbonate - CaCO3

ii.

Sodium Silicate Na2SiO3

3. In a Jar Test experiment, why does the turbidity increase again after reaching a minimum
value?
In Jar Test experiment, the objective is to find the optimum value of the pH and dosage of
solution for coagulation process. Optimum condition for coagulation is when the turbidity

value is in minimum state. For pH, the minimum turbidity is reached at the pH of 5 to 7. Thus,
as the pH of solution is exceeding 7, the turbidity value is starting to increase. This is due to
the less absence of positively charged particles that will collide with the negatively charged
colloid. The less collision of these particles will increase the cloudiness of solution. For
dosage factor, the optimum coagulation is reached as the specific value of dosage of solution
is prepared. In jar test experiment, if the dosage of solution is set more than that specific value
of dose, the excess coagulant will turn the solution acidic. That condition is negative for pH
factor and the excess coagulant will promote the sludge formation and make it difficult for
disposal purpose. This sludge formation will increase the turbidity thus increasing the graph
value.
4. Briefly discuss the effect of alkalinity on coagulation.
Alkalinity is defined as the capacity of water to neutralize the acidic properties which is based
on the waters content of specific chemical compound such as carbonate and hydroxide. In
coagulation process, water with high alkalinity is necessary to increase the interaction toward
the negatively charged colloids as the more alkalinity property will have more content of
positively charged ions. Alkalinity property also will provide anions, which is hydroxide (OH)
toward the solution. This property will form an insoluble compounds to precipitate the colloid
out.
The most significant application of this Jar Test Experiment is in the water and
wastewater treatment plant. In the conventional treatment plant, there are tank for process of
coagulation, which the solution is being coagulated, mixed, flocculated and settled before the
water is flow for the next process. The main purpose of coagulation is to destabilize and
causing the non-settled particles to clump together through the neutralization of the
electrostatic charges on colloidal particles (R. Parker, 2008) before it flocculate together and
let to be settled at lower part of the tank. In the field, it is significant to define the optimum
parameters to maximize the coagulation process such as temperature, pH and dosage. Jar Test
is a useful tool to determine the pH and dosage parameter under the simulated plant
conditions (R. Parker, 2008). The optimum parameter is related to the water qualities and
properties, and the treatment costing. An exceeding dose may cause waste in cost term and an
unsuitable pH may affected the water properties.
1.7 CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment conducted, the graph of turbidity vs alum dosage has been
plotted and mark as a Figure 1. It show that the minimum turbidity which is 0 NTU happen
two time. Minimum turbidity represent that the flocculation and coagulation happen

effectively which cause the water to be clear. It happen when the amount of 60ml and 100ml
of Al2SO4 is added. Due to the costing, it can be concluded that the most suitable dosage of
Al2So4 for coagulant is 60ml.
The suitable dosage of Al2SO4 is required to remove the suspended solid that contain in the
raw water. The jar testing is conducted to stimulate the process of coagulation and
flocculation at the treatment plant. By doing this, it help to estimate the suitable dosage and
chemical that required for coagulation and flocculation process without undergo the full scale
of treatment plant hence it can save the cost.

1.8 REFERENCES
Book:

R. Parker, N. Morris, F.N. Fair, S.C. Bhatia. Waste-water Engineering. CBS Publisher.
New Delhi (2008)

Internet website:

http://water.me.vccs.edu/concepts/coagulation.html

http://www.wrights-trainingsite.com

http://iaspub.epa.gov