Faculty of Applied Sciences

CMT 565

Wastewater and Technology

Tittle of the experiment: Experiment 2,3,4: Total solid (ts), total

suspended solid (TSS), volatile suspended solid(VSS)

Name of students 1. Amy Nabila bt Rusli (2014473722)

2. Balkis bt Hazmi (2014636182)
3. Mohammad Syazwan bin Mohd Jafri
(2014838732)
Date of Experiment
Name of Lecturer Dr. Shariff bin Che Ibrahim
Date of Submission 17.04.2016
Experiment 2,3,4: Total solid (ts), total suspended solid (TSS), volatile
suspended solid(VSS)

Objectives

To determine the Total Solids(TS), Total Suspended Solid(TSS), and Volatile Suspended
Solid (VSS) in a water sample.

Introduction

In this experiment, we will determine the total solids, total suspended solid and volatile
suspended solid in wastewater that have chosen by the laboratory. The term solid is used
when referring to any material suspended or dissolved in water or wastewater that can be
physically isolated either through filtration or evaporation. Solid can be classified as either
filterable or non-filterable. Filterable solid may either be settleable or non-settleable. Solids
can also be classified as inorganic and organic. Total solid is the term applied to the material
residue left in the vessel after evaporation of a sample and its suspended drying in an oven at
a defined temperature. Measurement of solids can be made in different water samples and is
defined as residue upon evaporating of free water. Thus total solids are nothing but
summation of total dissolved solids and total suspended solids.

The term total dissolved solids refer to materials that are completely dissolved in water.
Those solids are filterable in nature and defined as residue upon evaporating of non-filterable
sample on a filter paper. Dissolved solids may lead to scaling in boiler, corrosion and
degraded quality of the product. Estimation of total dissolved solids is useful to determine
whether the water is suitable for drinking purpose, agriculture and industrial purpose.
Suspended materials are very displeasing and provide adsorption sites for chemical and
biological agents. Suspended organic solids which are degraded anaerobically may release
abnoxious odours.

Volatile suspended solids are a water quality measure obtained from the loss on ignition of
total suspended solids. The sample water is filtered through a filter paper of known weight.
The paper is then dried out and weighed to get the “suspended solids”. Then the filter paper is
heated to an elevated temperature and weighed again. The % loss of the mass is the volatile
suspended solids.
Apparatus & Materials

5 cm diameter of porcelain crucible, 100ml measuring cylinder, 10ml pipette, steam bath
which was preheated at 100°C, preheated 103-103°C oven, desiccator, tongs and cotton
gloves, 12.5 cm glass fiber filter disk, Buchner flask and funnel, Vacuum pump, Aluminum
foil, Pinchers, muffle furnace, analytical balance

Procedure

A) Experiment 2 (Total Solid)

1) The water sample was shaken thoroughly to homogenize it.
2) 5 mL of sample was pipetted into the weighed porcelain crucibles which has been
cleaned and dried to a constant weight in an oven previously.
3) The water was evaporated off on a steam bath until dry then it is dried in an oven at 105
degree Celsius for 1 hour.
4) The porcelain crucibles was cooled in a desiccator.
5) The porcelain crucibles was weighed.

B) Experiment 3 (Total Suspended Solid)

1) The filter disk was dried in the oven at 103 degree to 105 degree for 1 hour. It was
cooled in a dessicators and weighed.
2) The filter disk was dried, 10 mL of water sample was pipetted onto centre of disk in
a Buchner flask by using gentle suction.
3) The disk was carefully washed with 10 mL distilled water. The disk was dried at 103-
105 degree for 1 hour.

C) Experiment 4 (Volatile Suspended Solid)

1) The SS from TSS was wrapped with aluminium foil and it was ignited at 550 degree in the
muffle furnace for half an hour.
2) It was cooled in a dessicator and it was weighed. It was repeated till a constant weight
was obtained.
Data

A) Experiment 2 (Total Solid)

Mass of empty porcelain crucible 34.0770 g
Mass of porcelain crucible + Total Solid 34.1227 g
Mass of Total Solid 0.0457 g
Volume of sample 5.0 ml

B) Experiment 3 (Total Suspended Solid)

Mass of empty filter paper 0.3064 g
Mass of filter paper + Total Suspended 1.5253 g
Solid
Mass of Total Solid 1.2189 g
Volume of Sample 10.0mL

C) Experiment 4 (Volatile Suspended Solid)

Mass of SS before ignition 1.2189 g
Mass of Volatile Suspended Solid after 1.2090 g
ignition
Difference of before and after ignition 0.0109 g
Volume of Sample 10.0 mL
Calculation

A) Experiment 2 (Total Solid)

Total Solid (TS) = x 106

Where,
a = weigh of evaporating dish + remaining solid (g)
b = weigh of dry empty evaporating dish (g)
c = Volume of sample (mL)

Total Solid (TS) = x 106

= 9140 mg/L

B) Experiment 3 (Total Suspended Solid)

Total Suspended Solid (TSS) = x 106

Where, a = Weigh of disk + solid, (g)

b = Weight of empty disk, (g)
c = Volume of sample used (mL)

TTS = x 106
C) Experiment 4 (Volatile Suspended Solid)

Volatile Suspended Solid (VVS) = x 106

Where:

A= Weigh of disk + solid below ignition, (g)

B= weight of empty filter disk + solid after ignition, (g)

C= Volume of sample used (mL)

VSS = x 106

Discussion

The difference of total solid, total suspended solid and volatile suspended solid can be
related with Equation: TS = TSS + TDS. Total solids, as defined by Standard Methods and
EPA, is the material residue left in a vessel after evaporation of a sample and its subsequent
drying in an oven at 103 to 105°C for one hour. Total suspended solids (TSS) is that portion
of the Total Solids that are retained on a no-ash glass fiber filter disc of approximately 0.45
mm pore size. The wetted and weighed filter disc is placed in a filtering apparatus and a
suction is applied. A measured volume of wastewater is passed through the filter. The filter
containing the residue is then dried in an oven for one hour at 103 to 105°C. The sample is
then cooled and weighed. The difference in weight of the dry filter before and after solids
passed through is the TSS milligrams (mg) of suspended solids per liter (l) of wastewater
filtered.

TSS are solid materials, including organic and inorganic, that are suspended in the
water. These would include silt, plankton and industrial wastes. High concentrations of
suspended solids can lower water quality by absorbing light. Waters then become warmer and
lessen the ability of the water to hold oxygen necessary for aquatic life. Because aquatic
plants also receive less light, photosynthesis decreases and less oxygen is produced. The
combination of warmer water, less light and less oxygen makes it impossible for some forms
of life to exist. Suspended solids affect life in other ways. They can clog fish gills, reduce
growth rates, decrease resistance to disease, and prevent egg and larval development.
Particles that settle out can smother fish eggs and those of aquatic insects, as well as suffocate
newly-hatched larvae. The material that settles also fills the spaces between rocks and makes
these microhabitats unsuitable for various aquatic insects, such as mayfly nymphs, stonefly
nymphs and caddisfly larva. Suspended solids can result from erosion from urban runoff and
agricultural land, industrial wastes, bank erosion, bottom feeders (such as carp), algae growth
or wastewater discharges.

In this experiment, the amount of solid in waste water is calculated by using certain
formula. In experiment 2, the amount of total solid that we got is 0.0457 g. In experiment 3,
the amount of total suspended solid we got is 1.2189 g. The amount is quite big because there
might be an error. The mass of solid calculated might be increased because have been
exposed to the air so long that the water vapour is present. For experiment 4, we got the final
amount of vaporized suspended solid is 1.2090 g. If being calculated the difference of final
and initial mass of the solid, the difference is 0.0108 g. The mass of solid calculated is very
small because the ignition process is very slow.

Conclusion

The amount of total solid, total suspended solid and volatile suspended solid has been
calculated and the reason behind the result obtained has been discussed.

References

1. Basic Information of Total Suspended Solid, retrieved on 11 April 2016, from

http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/NEW/info/TSS.html
2. Total Suspended Solid; What are They?, retrieved on 11 April 2016, from
https://www.ndhealth.gov/WQ/SW/Z6_WQ_Standards/WQ_TSS.htm

Question

Experiment 2:

1. Name the various forms of TS that can be found in wastewater

Total solids are the form of the suspended and dissolved solids which is organic,
inorganic solids. In an average domestic wastewater, the organic compounds
presented are proteins, carbohydrates, and fats together with the products of their
decomposition. The organic solids, which are subject to decay, constitute the main
problem in wastewater treatment. Inorganic solids are the natural waters that dissolve
some of the rocks and minerals include sand, gravel and silt.
 2. Explain the importance of Total Solid determination with respect to wastewater
treatment plant.
Total solid determination is important to determine and measure the value of
wastewater strength. When the high amount of total solids goes to the wastewater
treatment plant, it will damage the pump, especially the one that present as insoluble
form. The total solid determination helps us to protect the pump. The insoluble form
of total solids also can clog pipes. Also, it increases the possibility of pipe to be
corroded.

3. List four possible sources of error in this determination.

Sources of error can be from the apparatus and technique of handling the apparatus
which is come from human error. One of the errors occurs when the water sample is
taking up from the bottle. The sample does not thoroughly mix and not homogenized
completely before pipette, so that it will affect our result. The temperature should be
between 103 oC to 105 oC and cannot less than 100oC. The sample cannot dry
completely and this will effect on weighing the solids. Some of the sample stacked on
the wall of the disk in Buchner flask. This caused the amount of the solid become less
and the result may be not accurate and not follow the theory on the experiment.

Experiment 3:

1. What is the impact of TTS on Wastewater quality?

TSS is the most visible indicators of water quality. Excessive suspended sediment
can impair water quality for aquatic and human life, impede navigation and increase
flooding risks.

2. What doe TTS represent in the aeration tank of an activated sludge process?
In activated sludge process wastewater containing organic matter is aerated in an
aeration tank in which micro-organisms metabolize the suspended and soluble organic
matter. The organic matter is synthesized into new cells and part is oxidized to CO2
and water to derive energy. In activated sludge systems the new cells formed in the
reaction are removed from the liquid stream in the form of a flocculent sludge in
settling tanks. A part of this settled biomass, described as activated sludge is returned
to the aeration tank and the remaining forms waste or excess sludge.
Experiment 4:

1. Can this experiment be performed by using ordinary filter paper?

No, because the suspended solid are very small that they can penetrate through the
filter paper. This will make the filtration process useless.

2. What is the significance of VSS in wastewater?

VSS is a measure of the organic (as in chemicals) solids in a sample. For an
activated sludge biological plant treating human sewage, it is a measure of the
bacterial population present.