EXPERIMENT 5 : JAR TEST

5.1 INTRODUCTION

Coagulation or flocculation is the process of binding small particles in the water together
into larger, heavier clumps which settle out relatively quickly. The larger particles are
known as floc. Properly formed floc will settle out of water quickly in the sedimentation
basin, removing the majority of the water's turbidity.

The jar test is a common laboratory procedure used to determine the optimum operating
conditions for water or wastewater treatment. Jar testing involves taking a raw water
sample and applying different quantities of coagulant to each sample. This method allows
adjustments in pH, variations in coagulant or polymer dose, alternating mixing speeds, or
testing of different coagulant or polymer types, on a small scale in order to predict the
functioning of a large scale treatment operation. Operator’s changes the dosage and make
a new jar test if the quality of treated water changes. A jar test simulates the coagulation
and flocculation processes that encourage the removal of suspended colloids and organic
matter which can lead to turbidity, odor and taste problems.

In many plants, changing water characteristics require the operator to adjust coagulant
dosages at intervals to achieve optimal coagulation. Different dosages of coagulants are
tested using a jar test, which mimics the conditions found in the treatment plant. The first
step of the jar test involves adding coagulant to the source water and mixing the water
rapidly (as it would be mixed in the flash mix chamber) to completely dissolve the
coagulant in the water. Then the water is mixed more slowly for a longer time period,
mimicking the flocculation basin conditions and allowing the forming floc particles to
cluster together. Finally, the mixer is stopped and the floc is allowed to settle out, as it
would in the sedimentation basin.

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The type of source water will have a large impact on how often jar tests are performed.
Plants which treat groundwater may have very little turbidity to remove are unlikely to be
affected by weather-related changes in water conditions. As a result, groundwater plants
may perform jar tests seldom, if at all, although they can have problems with removing
the more difficult small suspended particles typically found in groundwater. Surface
water plants, in contrast, tend to treat water with a high turbidity which is susceptible to
sudden changes in water quality. Operators at these plants will perform jar tests
frequently, especially after rains, to adjust the coagulant dosage and deal with the
changing source water turbidity.

5.2 OBJECTIVE

1. To determine the optimum dosage of alum or selected polymer added to the water
sample.
2. To determine the effect of alum on the pH of treated water sample.

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5.3 APPARATUS

Six(6) Beakers
(500mL)

Pippette

Measuring Cylinder

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 Jar Test
(Flocculator)

Turbidity Meter

pH Meter

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 Stop Watch

Aluminum Sulphate Solution

(1g/L)

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5.4 PROCEDURE

Figure 5.1 shows how the experiment was set up

1. Turbidity of water sample from Serdang’s lake and Shah Alam’s lake was
measured using turbidity meter and the pH using pH meter.
2. Each beaker filled with 500ml of water sample from both lake.
3. Each beaker labeled with 1 till 6.
4. The stirrers began at 100rpm for 1 minute. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ml of stock solution
added immediately in each beaker respectively.
5. The stirrer speed reduced to 40rpm for 10 minutes.
6. The stirrer turned off and the samples allowed settling for 10 to 30 minutes.
7. The observation recorded (appearance of floc and floc size) and the residual
turbidity and pH of each sample measured after completion of settling period.

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5.5 SAFETY, HEALTH AND PRECAUTIONS

1. Do not disturb the floc that may float on the surface.

2. Wash the apparatus with distilled water after used to get accurate results.
3. Pour in the coagulant into water sample at a same time.
4. Adjust beakers position on the machine during coagulation process to avoid
broken of beakers.
5. Marked the experiment sample before start the experiment to ensure no mistakes
occur.

5.6 CALCULATION

By using the formula student are able to identify the turbidity :

𝑚𝑔 (𝐴𝑙𝑢𝑚 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)( 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑)

𝐴𝑙𝑢𝑚 𝐷𝑜𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒 ( )=
𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑

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5.7 RESULT AND DATA

Jar Alum Alum Initial Residual Turbidity Mean of Residual

Stock Dosage Turbidity (NTU) Residual pH
Solution (mg/l) (NTU) Turbidity
Added (NTU)
(ml)
1 10 20 60.56 0.903 0.930 1.030 0.954 6.47
2 15 30 60.56 0.306 0.351 0.332 0.329 5.95
3 20 40 60.56 0.527 0.436 0.507 0.490 5.23
4 25 50 60.56 0.401 0.426 0.347 0.391 4.87
5 30 60 60.56 0.501 0.507 0.510 0.506 4.77
6 35 70 60.56 0.422 0.430 0.428 0.426 4.71

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5.8 DISCUSSION

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5.9 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

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5.10 APPENDICES

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5.11 REFERENCES

1. SALEEM ASRAF SYED IMDAADULLAH (2008), Retrieved from

http://saleemindia.blogspot.com/2008/09/determinatin-of-optimum-alum-
dose.html
2. - JAR TEST Lab Report. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.scribd.com/doc/312071669/JAR-TEST-Lab-Report
3.

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