SOLIDS

OBJECTIVE

This experiment aims to determine the amount of total solids in the water sample provided.

THEORY

Solids in water are found both as suspended and dissolved in the water. In stream water,
dissolved solids consist of calcium, chlorides, nitrate, phosphorus, iron, sulfur and other ion
particles which will pass through a filter with pores of around 2 microns (0.002 cm) in size.
Suspended solids include silt and clay particles, plankton, algae, fine or organic debris and
other particulate matter. These are particles that will not pass through a 2-micron filter.

The concentration of dissolved solids affects the water balance in the cells of aquatic
organisms. An organism placed in water with a very low level of solids, such as distilled
water, will swell up because water will tend to move into its cells, which have a higher
concentration of solids. This will affect the organisms ability to maintain proper cell density
making it difficult to maintain its position.

A high concentration of total solids will make drinking water unpalatable and might have an
adverse effect on people who are not used to drinking such water.

In addition to the above total solids also affect the clarity of water. Higher solids decrease the
passage of light through water, thereby slowing photosynthesis by aquatic plants. Water will
heat up more rapidly and hold more heat; this in turn, might adversely affect aquatic life that
has adapted to a lower temperature regime.

According to W.H.O. the threshold of acceptable aesthetic criteria for total dissolved solids
in human drinking water is 1000 mg/l.

APPARATUS

a) Gooch crucible
b) Filter paper
c) Analytical balance
d) Funnel and measuring cylinder
e) Drying oven
f) Imhoff cone
g) Evaporating dish

F16/2604/2011
 EXPERIMENT METHOD

SUSPENDED SOLIDS:

A Gooch crucible was prepared by inserting an asbestos mat that acts as a filter and the
crucible inserted into an oven at 103oC to 105oC for an hour and then inserted into a
dessicator. This was followed by weighing it in an analytical balance.

The Gooch was mounted into a suction pump, shaken vigorously and 100ml of the sample
transferred quickly by means of a 100ml volumetric cylinder. The crucible was then removed
and dried in the oven overnight at the same temperature as before and thereafter weighed.

SETTLEABLE SOLIDS:

The sample was shaken vigorously and poured into an imhoff cone (1 liter). This was then
left for an hour to settle with any particles settling on the sides being gently forced down the
cone by gentle movement. The results were read off the side of the imhoff cone.

TOTAL SOLIDS:

A clean evaporating dish was oven dried and weighed. It was then cooled and stored in a
dessicator.

100 ml of the water sample was taken and placed in the evaporating dish; the evaporating
dish was then placed in a warm bath to allow the water to evaporate. After a few hours the
evaporating dish was transferred to an oven and left to dry overnight. It was then removed,
placed in the dessicator and left to cool. This was followed by weighing it in an analytical
balance.

READINGS AND CALCULATIONS

SUSPENDED SOLIDS:

Weight of filter paper + solids=168mg

Weight of filter paper=163mg
Volume of sample filtered=100ml=0.1L
Suspended solids= (168-163)/0.1L=50mg/l

TOTAL SOLIDS

Weight of evaporating dish with solids [w1] =47.409g

Weight of evaporating dish [w2] =47.368g

F16/2604/2011
 Dissolved solids=w1-w2 = (47.40947.368)/0.1L=410mg/L

TOTAL solids=suspended solids+ dissolved solids=50+410mg/L =460 mg/l

SETTLEABLE SOLIDS

Amount of settleable solids =14ml/L

CONCLUSION

The sample was found to contain an amount of total solids equal to 460mg/l which is below the
W.H.O threshold limit of 1000mg/l. Hence in terms of total solids, the sample can be regarded as
palatable.

F16/2604/2011