CMT 565

WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNOLOGY

EXPERIMENT 1, 2 & 3

Determination of Total Solids (TS), Suspended Solids (SS)

and Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS)

NAMES OF PARTNERS : NOORHAFIZA BINTI ABDULLAH (2016666334)

FAIRUZ NAIM BINTI ZAHID (2016675094)

SITI NURHANIS BINTI ABD BASIT (2016675114)

GROUP : RAS2454C
DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 13rd of MARCH 2017
LECTURER’S NAME : MADAM SALAMIAH ZAKARIA
OBJECTIVES:

1. To determine the total solids (TS) in a wastewater sample.

2. To determine the suspended solids (SS) in a wastewater sample.
3. To determine the volatile suspended solids (VSS) in a wastewater sample.

INTRODUCTION:

The term of ‘solids’ is referring to any material suspended, floated, settleable,

colloidal or dissolved in water through either filtration or evaporation. Total solids (TS)
content is the most important physical characteristics of wastewater. The TS is referring
to the residue remaining after a wastewater sample has been evaporated and dried at a
defined temperature. TS also a measure of total dissolved solids (TDS) and total
suspended solids (TSS) in water. The TS value is used to assess the reuse potential of
wastewater and to determine the most suitable type of treatment process.

The term suspended solids (SS) is material that remain suspended in water and
act as a colloid. The measurement of SS is a way of gauging water quality. SS are
common in wastewater applications and should not be mistaken for settleable solids
that are also abbreviated as SS. When SS are left untreated, these can contribute to
sewer pipe blockage and cause damage to other systems.

The term volatile suspended solids (VSS) is refer to material that can be
volatilized and burned off when TSS are ignited about 500°C. It is a water quality
measure obtained from the loss on ignition of total suspended solids. It has great
importance in water and wastewater treatment. It represents the amount of organic
solids in water. The greater the concentration of organic or volatile solids, the stronger
the wastewater.
RESULTS AND DATA:

Experiment 1: Determination of total solids (TS)

Volume of sample (mL) 5

Weight of empty evaporating dish (g) 24.9600
Weight of evaporating dish + remaining solids (g) 24.9612

Sample calculation:

(A−B)
Total solids = × 106
C

Denotes: A = Weight of evaporating dish + remaining solids (g)

B = Weight of empty evaporating dish (g)

C = volume of sample (mL)

Average of weight evaporating dish + remaining solids (g) = (24.9614 + 24.9609) g / 2

= 24.9612 g

Weight of the remaining solids (g) = (24.9612 – 24.9600) g

= 0.0012 g

(24.9612−24.9600) g
Concentration of Total solids (TS) = × 106
5 mL

= 240 mg/L
Experiment 2: Determination of suspended solids (SS)

Volume of sample (mL) 10

Weight of filter disk (g) 0.0981
Weight of filter disk + solids (g) 0.1067
Weight of crucible (g) 37.4337
Weight of crucible + filter disk + solids (g) 37.5404

Sample calculation:

(A−B)
Suspended solids = × 106
C

Denotes: A = weight of filter disk + solids (g)

B = weight of disk alone (g)

C = volume of sample (mL)

Weight of filter disk + solids (g) = (37.5404 – 37.4337) g

= 0.1067 g

Weight of solids (g) = (0.1067– 0.0981) g

= 0.0086 g

(0.1067−0.0981) g
Concentration of Suspended solids (SS) = × 106
10 mL

= 860 mg/L
Experiment 3: Determination of volatile suspended solids (VSS)

Volume of sample (mL) 10

Weight of filter disk + solids before ignition (g) 37.5404
Weight of filter disk + solids after ignition (g) 37.5168

Sample calculation:

(A−B)
Volatile suspended solids = × 106
C

Denotes: A = weight of filter disk + solids before ignition (g)

B = weight of filter disk + solids after ignition (g)

C = volume of sample (mL)

Weight of volatile suspended solids (VSS) = (37.5404 – 37.5168) g

= 0.0236 g

(37.5404−37.5168) g
Concentration of Volatile suspended solids (VSS) = × 106
10 mL

= 2360 mg/L

DISCUSSIONS:
 In experiment 1, we determined the total solids content in a 5 mL of wastewater
sample. Total solids is the residue remaining after a waste water sample has been
evaporated and dried at a specific temperature of 105° C. Solid can be classified as
either filterable or non- filterable. Filterable means that the solid either be settleable or
non settleable. Besides, solids also can be classify as organic or inorganic.
Measurement of solids can be made in different water samples such as industrial,
domestics and also drinking water. Thus, it was defined as residue upon evaporation of
free water. In brief, total solids (TS) is the summation of total suspended solids (TSS)
and total dissolved solids (TDS).

In experiment 2, we want to determine the suspended solids in the wastewater

sample. First of all, the definition of suspended solids is a portion of the total solids
retained on a filter with a specified pore size, measured after being dried at a specified
temperature (105 °C). Suspended solids (SS) is also known as total suspended solids
(TSS). The filter used most commonly for the determination of TSS is the Whatman
glass fiber filter, which has a normal pore size of about 1.58 𝜇m. More TSS will be
measured as the pore size of the filter used is reduced. Thus, it is important to note the
pore size of the filter paper used, when comparing reported TSS values. So, in this
experiment, we used glass-fibre filter disk instead of filter paper. This is because to
measure TSS values, it is significantly needs to be either sintered glass, fritted glass or
glass fiber filter paper that typically 0.45 µm pore size to get accurate and precise value
of TSS in the wastewater sample. TSS is a lumped parameter because the number and
size distribution of the particles that comprise the measured value is unknown.
Nevertheless, TSS test results are used routinely to assess the performance of
conventional treatment processes and the need for effluent filtration in reuse
applications. TSS is one of the two universally used effluent standards (along with BOD)
by which the performance of treatment plants is judged for regulatory control purposes.

There are several tests available for measuring solids. Most are gravimetric tests
involving the mass of residues. The total solids (TS) test quantifies all the solids in the
water, suspended and dissolved, organic and inorganic. This parameter is measured by
evaporating 5 mL wastewater sample to dryness without undergoing filtration by placing
the sample on the steam bath and weighing the residue. A drying temperature slightly
above boiling (105 °C) is sufficient to drive off the liquid and the water adsorbed to the
surface of the particles. After drying the sample in oven, the evaporating dish included
the sample is cooled in dessicator and before weighing. Then the mass of solid is
recorded until the constant weight is obtained by repeating drying and cooling process.
The average recorded weight of solids is about 0.0012 g. So, the concentration of the
total solids (TS) is 240 mg/L.

On the other hand, most suspended solids (SS) can be removed from water by
filtration. Thus, the suspended fraction of the solids in a water sample can be
approximated by filtering the water, drying the residue in oven at 105 °C for 1 hour and
determining the mass of the residue retained on the filter. The weight of the suspended
solids obtained is 0.0086 g in 10 mL of wastewater sample. So, the concentration of
suspended solids (SS) is 860 mg/L.

In experiment 3, the analysis of volatile suspended solids (VSS) determines the

weight of the solid material combustible at 550 °C. This test is useful for obtaining an
approximation of the amount of organic matter present in the water sample. In order to
get the volatile suspended solids (VSS), the solids obtained in Experiment 2 is ignited at
550 °C in the muffle furnace for half an hour. Then, the sample is cooled in dessicator
and weighed to a constant weight. The amount of weight of volatile suspended solids
(VSS) recorded is 0.0236 g in 10 mL of wastewater sample. So, the concentration of the
VSS obtained is 2360 mg/L. So, there was about 2360 mg/L of organic matter present
in the wastewater sample that we had analyzed.

CONCLUSION:
 From this experiment, we can conclude that the amount of concentration of total
solids (TS) obtained in 5 mL wastewater sample is 240 mg/L. Meanwhile, the amount of
concentration of suspended solids (SS) obtained in 10 mL of the same wastewater
sample is 860 mg/L. Last, the amount of concentration of volatile suspended solids
(VSS) obtained in 10 mL of wastewater sample is 2360 mg/L. From all the results
obtained, this is proved that the raw wastewater sample contain high suspended solids
(SS) which present both organic and inorganic matters. From the suspended solids (SS)
values obtained, we can compare the results with the standard regulations of
Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA) that limits the parameter effluents standard for
final discharge water is 50 mg/L of SS. But in this experiment we just only determined
the SS content in the raw wastewater sample, so the results is reliable as the raw
sample normally contain high suspended solids before treated. Out of the three
parameters that we had determined, the SS is the most important parameter in
monitoring the performance of the wastewater treatment plant and to meet the
requirement of standard regulation for final discharge of water in industrial sector
according to Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA) under Department Of Environment
(DOE).

QUESTIONS:
1. What does total solid (TS) represent in water and wastewater?

Total solid is the residue remaining after a wastewater sample has been
evaporated and dried at a specified temperature (105 °C).

Total Suspended Solid is the portion of total solid retained on a filter with a
specific pore size, measured after being dried at specific temperature (105 °C).
The filter used most commonly for the determination of TSS is the Whatman
glass fiber filter, which has a nominal pore 1.58 µm.

Total Dissolved Solid is the solids that pass through the filter, and then
evaporated and dried at specific temperature. The TDS is measured the
comprised of collloidal and dissolved solids. Colloidals are typically in size range
from 0.001 to 1 µm.

2. What is the significance of suspended solid (SS) in water and in the mixed liquor
of the activated sludge aeration tank?

Suspended solids, where such material is likely to be organic and/or biological in

nature, are an important parameter of wastewater. The suspended solids
parameter is used to measure the quality of the wastewater influent, to monitor
several treatment processes and also to measure the quality of effluent. EPA has
set a maximum suspended – solids standard of 30 mg/L for most treated
wastewater discharged. Mixed Liquor Suspended Solid testing measures the
total concentration of mixed liquor suspended (non-soluble) solids in the aeration
basin of an activated sludge system. The MLSS data is used to determine the
operational behaviour and solids inventory of the system and it is used to
determine when to waste or / and recycle sludge.
3. What is the significance of volatile suspended solid (VSS) in water and
wastewater?
A volatile suspended solids (VSS) test is performed in order to determine the
concentration of volatile suspended solids in an aeration stabilization basin
system. Volatile suspended solids data is use to determine the operational
behaviour and biological concentration throughout the system. The weight lost on
ignition of the solids represent the volatile solids in the sample.

4. Can ordinary filter paper be used in this test?

No because it needs to be either sintered glass, fritted glass or glass fiber filter
paper that typically 0.45 µm pore size.
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