Exp 1 Solids in water

Determination of Amount of solids in water

Determination of Amount of solids in water    Total Solids   Total Dissolved Solids   Total Suspended Solids
Comparison

Question Answers

1)   Why sample is evaporated at 180⁰ C for dissolved solids ?

 Samples high in bicarbonate require careful and possibly prolonged drying at 180°C to insure complete conversion of bicarbonate to carbonate. Because excessive residue in the dish may form a water-trapping crust, limit sample to no more than 200 mg residue. Residues dried at 180 ± 2°C will lose almost all mechanically occluded water. Some water of crystallization may remain, especially if sulfates are present. Organic matter may be lost by volatilization, but not completely destroyed. Loss of CO2 results from conversion of bicarbonates to carbonates and carbonates may be decomposed partially to oxides or basic salts. Some chloride and nitrate salts may be lost. In general, evaporating and drying water samples at 180°C yields values for dissolved solids closer to those obtained through summation of individually determined mineral species than the dissolved solids values secured through drying at the lower temperature.

2)   What is WHO guideline value for total solids ?

Water containing TDS concentrations below 1000 mg/litre is usually acceptable ,by WHO although acceptability may vary according to circumstances. Concentrations of TDS from natural sources have been found to vary from less than 30 mg/litre to as much as 6000 mg/litre. Concentrations of TDS above 500 mg/L result in excessive scaling in water pipes, water heaters, boilers and household appliances.

3)   Define Volatile  solids ?

Those solids in water or other liquids that are lost on ignition of the dry solids at 550° centigrade. Are called Volatile solids. The determination is useful in control of wastewater treatment plant operation because it offers a rough approximation of the amount of organic matter present in the solid fraction of wastewater, activated sludge, and industrial wastes.

4)   What is gravimetric method ?

Gravimetric method describes a set of methods in analytical chemistry for the quantitative determination of an analyte based on the mass of a solid. A simple example is the measurement of solids suspended in a water sample: A known volume of water is filtered, and the collected solids are weighed.In most cases, the analyte must first be converted to a solid by precipitation with an appropriate reagent. The precipitate can then be collected by filtration, washed, dried to remove traces of moisture from the solution, and weighed. The amount of analyte in the original sample can then be calculated from the mass of the precipitate and its chemical composition. These methods are among the oldest of analytical techniques, and they may be lengthy and tedious. Samples may have to be extensively treated to remove interfering substances. As a result, only a very few gravimetric methods are currently used in environmental analysis. Gravimetric methods are the most accurate and involve evaporating the liquid solvent to leave a residue which can subsequently be weighed with a precision analytical balance (normally capable of .0001 gram accuracy). This method is generally the best, although it is time consuming and leads to inaccuracies if a high proportion of the TDS consists of low boiling point organic chemicals, which will evaporate along with the water. In the most common circumstances inorganic salts comprise the great majority of TDS, and gravimetric methods are appropriate.

5)   Why some solids settle down after some time ?

 The solids in suspended form that settle down after some times are called settle able Solids. These solids settle down as the force of gravity acts upon them. Moreover coarser solids have specific gravity greater than that of water and they will settle down, under the effect of gravity.