King Faisal University

College of Engineering
Department of Civil &
Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering Lab

CEE 350

Experiment
Number and
Name
Date of
Performing the
Experiment
Date of
Submission the
Report
Student Name
Student ID
Group No./Group
Name
Section No./Section
Day

Lab Instructor

( 4 )

Determination of Alkalinity in Water.

17d

Oct

2016

31th

Oct

2016

Arafat Abdulrahman Ali

213189413
2
1/Mon

Engr. Ziad Shatnawi

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-

Abstract:
This experiment aimed to study and test the term water alkalinity. It is the capacity to neutralize a strong
acid. which is the ability of water sample to resist decreasing of pH value. This resistance property is due to
the presence of certain species such as hydroxide ions OH -1, bicarbonate ions HCO3-1 and carbonate CO3-2.
Alkalinity has been determined by titrating 50ml water sample (Alasfar & wastewater) with 0.02HCl. It has

performed in two stages, first, Phenolphthalein or partial alkalinity so that pH reduced beyond 8.3. then at
the second stage the pH reduced less than 4.5 indicated by Methyl orange.
6a

II-

Presentation of Results:

2.1- Data & Results

Table (1): Phenolphthalein Alkalinity.
Sample / vol
(ml)

Initial reading
(in ml)

Final reading
(in ml)

Vol. Of HCl
Run down
(in ml)

Phenolphthale
in
Alkalinity
mg/l of CaCO3

Alasfar / 50ml

Lab Sample
(Waste
Water)/
50ml

1.9

1.9

38

Table (2): Methyl Orange (Total Alkalinity).

Sample
Alasfar / 50ml
Lab Sample
(Waste
Water)/
50ml

Initial reading
(in ml)

Final reading
(in ml)

Vol. Of HCl
Run down
(in ml)

Total
Alkalinity mg/l
of CaCO3

6.1

6.1

122

10.2

10.2

204

2.2- Sample of Calculation.

-

Phenolphthalein alkalinity of waste water =

=

x 1000

1.9
x 1000
= 38 mg/l of CaCO3
50

volume of HCl
volume of sample

Total acidity of waste water=

=

volume of HCl
volume of sample

x 1000

10.2
x 1000
= 204 mg/l of CaCO3
50

CO2 acidity of waste water = Total acidity mineral acidity = 13.3 -12 = 1.3 mg/l of CaCO3

III-

Discussion of Results:

Based on the results calculated above in the tables; the titration was conducted in
two steps. The fires sample (Alasfar water) his pH value was below 8.3 so that the

phenolphthalein was useless in this step. Farther, in the second step, when this
samples pH has been lowered beyond 4.5 which corresponds to methyl orange end
point chaining color from yellow to orange pink color. This corresponds to the
equivalence points for the conversion of bicarbonate ion to carbonic acid achieving total
alkalinity 122mg/L (CaCO3). Similarly, the other sample (Waste Water) was conducted in
two phases, In the first phase, the titration is conducted until the pH is lowered to 8.3,
the point at which phenolphthalein indicator turns from pink to colorless. This value
corresponds to the points for conversion of carbonate to bicarbonate ion. The second
phase of titration is conducted until the pH is lowered to 4.5, corresponds to methyl
orange end point, which corresponds to the equivalence points for the conversion of
bicarbonate ion to carbonic acid achieving total alkalinity 204mg/L (CaCO 3).

IV-

Conclusion:

Alkalinity is significantly utilized in many uses especially in the field of treatments

processes of natural waters and wastewaters. It is an important indicator to give an
inspection about the properties that influence the environmental intermediates. For
example, in the aquaculture ponds alkalinity is required to be conducted so that water
has the ability (capacity) to maintain suitable pH value so that the organisms will not
be affected due to the increasing of acidic sources. Moreover, Alkalinity in excess of
alkaline earth metal concentrations is significant in determining the suitability of water
for
irrigation.

V-

References:
- http://nitttrc.ac.in/four%20quadrant/eel/quadrant%20-%201/exp7_pdf.pdf
- http://www.lagoonsonline.com/laboratory-articles/acid.htm