Turbidity and Total Suspended Solids

Introduction
Turbidity is a measurement of water clarity where solids in the water obstruct the
transmittance of light through the sample. Turbidity is an important water quality parameter
that can indicate the presence of dispersed suspended solids, algae and other
microorganisms, organic material and other minute particles.
Total suspended solids (TSS) is a laboratory gravimetric procedure where the solids from
the water sample are filtered through a 47mm glass fiber filter, dried and weighed to
determine the total nonfilterable residue (TNR) of the sample reported as mg/L.
Both turbidity and total suspended solids can be measured together with a TSS probe.
The probe, which utilizes a modified absorbance measurement, provides a qualitative
analysis for TSS. For the turbidity function, the probe uses a 2channel 90 scattered light
measurement. The units of measure for turbidity are NTU, FNU, and EBC; the units of
measure for the suspended solids are ppm, mg/L, g/L and %.
Turbidity and TSS can be used for process control in the treatment of the produced and
flowback water. At different stages in the treatment process the sample can be analyzed to
determine and trend the treatment's ability to remove the solids from the water. Figure 1
shows how TSS and turbidity measurements trend with the same samples. The data
generated by both methodologies provide the operator with process management
information.

Figure 1 TSS versus Turbidity

Recommended Instrumentation

Turbidity measurement: Portable Turbidimeter 2100Q (item number 2100QIS01).

Laboratory Turbidimeter 2100N (part number 4700000), or 2100AN (item number

4700100)

Total Suspended Solids: TSS portable probe (item number LXV322.99.00002)

Laboratory method, Gravimetric method (Hach method 8158) for nonfilterable total
suspended solids.

Measuring turbidity and total suspended solids

Turbidity
The 2100Q is a portable turbidimeter, with a measuring range of 0 to 1000 NTUs. When a
sample is over the 1000 NTU range, a 1:1 dilution will lower the NTU concentration within
appropriate range.
For laboratory turbidity measurements choose either the 2100N or AN; the N's measuring
range is 0 to 4000 NTUs, and the AN's measuring range is 0 to 10,000 NTUs.

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Procedures Explained: Turbidity and Total Suspended Solids

The TSS portable probe's turbidity measuring range is 0 to 4000 NTUs.
Suspended solids
The laboratory total suspended solids method is the gravimetric procedure where the
sample is filtered, dried and weighed to determine the true quantitative TSS.
The TSS probe has an operating concentration range of 0.001 to 400 g/L.

Matrix Challenges
The laboratory turbidimeters, A and AN, can measure above 1000 NTUs because of the
ratio measurement feature that corrects for color interference. The laboratory
turbidimeters are not portable for field analysis, but they can be used in an onsite mobile
lab. However, for ease of use and smaller footprint, the 2100Q is adequate for most
produced and flowback water samples. If the sample is over range, a simple 1:1 dilution
should lower the turbidity concentration within the 0 to 1000 NTU range. High levels of
color may cause high results.
The challenge for the gravimetric TSS procedure is that this application is a laboratory
test. It is possible to perform the analysis in a mobile lab, but there is an abundance of lab
equipment needed for this procedure, i.e. oven, analytical balance, vacuum pump,
desiccators, etc. The method requires moderate laboratory skill, and test results are not
available for 3 to 4 hours. Samples having a high TSS load or high oil residual levels may
require sample size adjustments.
The TSS portable probe is ideal for measuring suspended solids in the field. Its 10 m cable
allows the probe to be lowered into the storage container to spot check the suspended
solids or turbidity of the produced or flowback water. The probe is best used after
calibration or correlation to the gravimetric TSS procedure. The TSS probe also provides
immediate results for process control and reduces the need for the time consuming
suspended solids lab analysis. Samples having high levels of oil or hydrocarbon residuals
may coat the probe and require routine cleaning. Samples having variable color or
particulate size can cause variable test results.

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