HYDROLOGY LABORATORY

ECW351
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEPT 2017 JAN 2018

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : Jar Test

DATE OF EXPERIMENT :26/9/2017
GROUP :
GROUP MEMBERS 1. Amir As- Siddiq b. Mohamad Zaki
2.
3.
4.
5.

LECTURER : DR DURATUL AIN THOLIBON

LEVEL OF OPENESS : 0

MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION CO3 PO9
OBJECTIVE(S) CO3 PO9
METHODOLOGY CO3 PO9
RESULTS CO3 PO9
DISCUSSION CO4 PO9 2 4 6 8 10
CONCLUSION CO4 PO9 2 4 6 8 10
ORGANIZATION CO4 PO9 2 4 6 8 10

TOTAL MARKS

1.1 Introduction
In this lab, students will be exposed on how to carry out a jar test in order to
determine the optimum coagulant dose in the flocculation tank.

1.2 Objective
To determine the optimum alum dosage and pH of water using Jar test experiment.

1.3 Theory
Jar test is a method of stimulating a full scale water treatment process , providing
system operators a reasonable idea of the way a treatment chemical will behave and
operate with a particular type of raw water. It entails adjusting the amount of
treatment chemicals and the sequence in which they are added to samples of raw
water held in jars. The sample is then stirred so that the formation, development and
settlement of floc can be watched just as it would be in full scale treatment plant. The
tests are therefore used to determine the most effective doses of coagulant for specific
water in the control of coagulation and flocculation at a water treatment plant,
especially when water quality fluctuates rapidly.

2.1 Apparatus

i. Jar Test Beaker

ii. Pippete
iii. Turbidity meter
iv. pH meter
v. Cell sample
vi. Alum Dosage
vii. Stopwatch
2.2 Procedures

i. 1 liter graduated cylinder was used, 1 liter of raw water to each jar test beakers was
added. The pH and turbidity was recorded.
ii. Next, prepare a stock solution by dissolving 10.0 grams of alum into 1,000 mL
distilled water. Each 1.0 mL of this stock solution is equivalent to 10 mg/L (ppm).
iii. Dose each beaker with increased amounts of the stock solution, see Table below
for an example of increment.

iv. Lower the stirring paddles start the stirrer and operate it for 1 min at a speed of 80
rpm and reduce to 30 rpm for 15 min. (Note how long it takes before flocs begins to
form and how well it withstands stirring without breaking up.)
v. The stirrer was stopped and how long it takes for the floc to settle to the bottom of
the beaker was recorded.
vi. The flocs was allowed to settle for 20 min. The turbidity of the supernatant was
determined.
Note: Jar tests using coagulation aids and test for optimal pH These tests can
be performed accordingly by the addition of polyelectrolytes and making pH
adjustment for the determination of optimum pH.
3.1 Data Acquisition
Collect all the data from the above procedure and results for a comparison.

Date : 26/9/2017
Raw water source : River
Turbidity : 20.2 NTU
Color : Yellowish
pH : 2.22
Hardness:
Iron:

Jar FLOC SUPERNATANT

Alum Alum Floc Form Settling rate 20 min
Added Dosage pH min min Settled
mL mg/L Turbidity
1 0 0 2.00 0 0 22.0
2 2 20 1.68 9 7 69.8
3 3 30 1.76 7 6 56.2
4 4 40 2.19 5 5 42.9
5 5 50 1.44 3 4 37.6
6 6 60 1.06 2 3 11.4

4.1 Discussion
The two basic terms which can exactly explain the happenings of this
experiment are Coagulation and Flocculation.
1. Coagulation: It is the process of addition of a chemical to de-stabilize a stabilized
charged particle.
2. Flocculation: It is a slow mixing technique which promotes agglomeration and
helps the particles to settle down

Through the slow mixing or so called Flocculation a process known as

agglomeration occurs which combines the charged particles into a compact whole and
helps in the settling of the particle. That is the reason why we have step of slow
mixing in the present experiment.
When alum solution is added to water, the molecules dissociate to yield
SO4^2- and Al3+. These charged species combine with the charged colloidal particles
to neutralize the charge. A detailed explanation of the charge removal can be found in
the web which will be based on two basic definitions Stern potential and Zeta
Potential

Graph 1
Optimum pH = 1.9

From the graph 1, the optimum pH in this data is 1.9. The optimum pH was
determined by the highest pH obtained in the experiment.
 Graph 2
Optimum Alum Dosage ( mg/L) = 22 mg/L

From the data, graph turbidity vs alum dose was plotted. From the graph 2,
we decide that the optimum dosage of alum in this experiment is approximately 22
mg/L of alum.

Based on the data, we can conclude that although the turbidity is generally
declines as the amount of the alum which added into the water but there is a point
where more alum should not be added. This is because alum will make the water more
acidic. Therefore, too overcome these problems, buffer should be added with same
amount of alum at the same time the alum is added.

4.2 Conclusion
Generally, this experiment are accomplished by determine the suitable pH and
alum dose. This experiment was applied in coagulation and flocculation process to
treated the water. In the nutshell, the optimum pH and optimum alum dose that
suitable for the sample is 1.9 and 22 mg/L.
4.3 Appendix

Figure 1 pH meter

Figure 2 Cell sample

 Figure 3 Turbidity meter

Figure 4 Jar Test Beaker

Figure 5 Pippete

Reference
https://sarat212.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/jar-test-for-determining-
coagulant-dosage-in-water-treatment/
http://www.thewatertreatments.com/wastewater-sewage-
treatment/coagulation-types/

Book
ECW 351 Water And Water Waste Engineering