DETERMINATION OF TOTAL SOLIDS

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF WATER

This involves tests for the Determination of Total solids in water treatments

Total solids  are considered to be the sum of dissolved and suspended solids. In water sources, the dissolved solids, which usually predominate, consist mainly of inorganic salts, small amount of organic matter and dissolved gases. The suspended solids contain much of the organic matter, any increase there of tends to increase the degrees of pollution of water, if used for public health purposes.

The determination of total solids is made by evaporation and drying of a measured sample of water in a Pyrex beaker or China dish. Since Water may contain small amounts of the suspended Matter, it is usual, therefore, to determine separately the total solids in filtered and unfiltered water samples. The difference between total solids in unfiltered and filtered samples in water treatment is then taken as a measure of the suspended solid present.

Procedure:  Weigh accurately a thoroughly cleaned and dried evaporating dish of 250 ml capacity. Take 100 ml of water sample in it. Evaporate the water carefully to dryness. When it is almost dried, keep the dish in hot air over at 110-120°C. When residual water is removed completely, cool in a desiccator to room temperature and find the mass of the residue in dish. Let it be x g. Then total solids in sample

x X 10^6/10^2 = 10^4 x ppm.

High concentration of dissolved Solids in water when used in boiler, leads to boiler troubles like priming and foaming which cause difficulties in the normal and regular operation of boiler.