Determination of pH of Sewage

Aim: To determine the pH of the given waste water sample using pH paper and pH electrode.

Materials Required: Buffer solutions of pH 4.0 and pH 7.0, beaker, pH meter, distilled
water, pH paper.

Theory: The term pH refers to the measure of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution and
defined as the negative log of [H+] ions concentration in water. The values of pH 0 to a little
less than 7 are termed as acidic and the values of pH a little above 7 to 14 are termed as basic.
When the concentration of H+ and [OH-] ions are equal then it is termed as neutral pH. pH of
water is temperature dependant.

pH + pOH = 14 (at 25o c)

pH + pOH = 15 (at 0o c)

pH + pOH = 13 (at 60o c)

Rainwater is acidic due mainly to the presence of carbonic acid, a common culprit for
lowering the pH of water. Carbonic acid forms when carbon dioxide gas reacts with water
molecules in the atmosphere. Carbonic acid lowers the pH of rainwater by increasing the [H+]
concentration.

Procedure:

A) Using pH paper

1. Place the clean and dry test tubes in the test tube rack.
2. Pour sample waste water in each tube.
3. Place strips of pH paper on the dry glazed white tile.
4. Suck the solution from each test tube using a clean dropper and transfer it to the
respective pH paper.
5. Note down the colour change.
6. Compare the colour change in the pH paper with the standard pH-colour chart.

B) Using Glass Electrode

I) CALIBRATION OF ELECTRODE

1. Dip the combined electrode in a 7 pH buffer solution.

2. Set the TEMPERATURE C at to the temperature of the selected buffer
solution.
3. Set the function selector switch to pH position and adjust CALIBRATE
control until the meter displays the precise pH value of the buffer solution.
4. Now set the Function Selector Switch to STAND BY.
5. Remove the electrode from the buffer solution, wash with distilled water.
 6. Dip the combined electrode into another buffer solution (say 4 pH value).
7. Set the TEMPERATURE C control to the buffer solution Temperature.
8. Set the Function Selector Switch to pH position. Adjust the "SLOPE"
Correction Controls until the meter displays the pH value of the selected
buffer solution, Check that the correct readings are obtained with both
solutions without further adjustment.

II) pH MASUREMENTS

1. Dip the combined electrode in a suitable buffer solution.

2. Set the "TEMPERATURE C Control to the buffer solution Temperature.
3. Set the Function Selector Switch to the pH position and adjust the
CALIBRATE control until the meter displays the pH value of the buffer
solution.
4. Return the function Selector Switch to the STANDBY position. It is a good
practice to do this between measurements.
5. Remove the electrode from the buffer solutions wash with distilled water, and
immerse in the solution under test.
6. Set the TEMPERATURE C Control to the temperature of the test solution.
7. Set the function selector switch to the pH position. The meter wilt display pH
value of the test solution.

Interferences: The pH can be measured either colorimetrically or electrometrically. The

colorimetric method is less expensive but suffers from interference from colour turbidity,
salinity, colloidal matter and various oxidants and reductants. The indicators are subjected to
deterioration as they are colour standards with which pH is compared. Moreover no single
indicator encompasses the pH range of interest in water.

The glass electrode method (electrometric) is a standard technique free from interferences in
natural water except for a sodium error associated with pH above 10.

Results: The pH of given sample is

Conclusion: