)Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) or Mixed Liquor Volatile Suspended Solids (MLVSS

MLVSS OVEN
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Mixed Liquor Volatile Suspended Solids (MLVSS) &

(MLSS)

MLSS testing measures the total concentration of mixed liquor

suspended (non-soluble) solids in the aeration basin of an activated sludge system. The mixed
liquor suspended solids (MLSS) data is critical in determining the operational behavior and
solids inventory of the system and it is used to determine when to waste and/or recycle sludge.
In order to test the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) a well-mixed sample should be
filtered through a weighed standard glass-fiber filter. The residue left on the filter is dried to a
constant weight at a temperature between 103 C and 105 C. The increase in weight of the filter
represents the total suspended solids of the sample. Large floating particles or submerged
agglomerates of nonhomogenous materials from the sample may be excluded in the total
suspended solids measurements if it is determined that their inclusion is not representative of the
entire sample. The size of sampling should also be limited to a size the yields no more than 200
mg residue.
High mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) values in effluents are often related to excessive
solids generation due to an increase in BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) loading or can
indicate problems with the biomass like nutrient deficiency or bulking sludge. High MLSS
values can also be attributed to high flows or insufficient settling times.
After the mixed liquor suspended solids value is determined a mixed liquor volatile suspended
solids (MLVSS) test may be performed in order to determine the concentration of volatile
suspended solids in the aeration basin of an activated sludge system. Mixed liquor volatile
suspended solids data is critical in determining the operational behavior and biological inventory
of the system. The filter used for mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) testing is ignited at 550

C for 30 minutes. The weight lost on ignition of the solids represents the volatile solids in the
sample.
Please contact Environmental Business Specialists at 985-674-0660 for complete procedures.

Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS)

Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids

Test (MLSS) or Mixed Liquor
Volitable Suspended Solids Test
(MLVSS) use the same bench
sheet.

For the MLSS the effective range

is stated as 4mg/L - 20,000
mg/L. This information is placed
on the bench sheet.

On the bench sheet there should

be the actual location from where
the sample must be taken
because many samples have a
designated sampling point. The
reason being that if everyone
collects from the same sampling
point confusion in the results is
minimized.

Here the operator is shown

collecting a sample to run the
MLSS from the designated
sampling point. This is the last
place on the oxidation ditch
where the MLSS is concentrated
before the mixed liquor enters
the clarifiers. The operator
lowers a simple plastic bucket
with a rope attached to it to
collect a sample. After a sample
has been collected it is taken into
the laboratory for further
analysis. This type of sample
collection is known as a grab
sample.

The operator places the collected

sample in the sink to keep the
conditions as sanitary as
possible.

The sample is then stirred and

poured into a 1,000 mL beaker.

The operator is removing two

filters from the desiccator. At the
bottom of the desiccator there is
a blue granule rock - this is an
active color indicating desiccant,
which is necessary. If the
operator notices that the blue
color has changed to a pinkish
color, then the desiccant must be
replaced because its efficiency in
drawing moisture from the filters
has diminished.

The filters are held in what is

called a weighing dish. If you
will notice on the little metal tab
that they are numbered 1 and 2
(numbering helps keep confusion
from happening during the
testing). This facility uses
Whatman's Glas Microfibre
Filters grade 934-AH, circle size
47 mm.

Each filter is individually

weighed at this point to
determine the actual initial
weight of the filter.

The weight shown is 0.1101

grams and to convert weight into
mg, simply shift the decimal
point three places to the right.
Now the reading is 110.1 mg.

At this point the operator will

write in the designated column
on the bench sheet the
information gathered so far. Also
the operator will fill in the
sample date, sample time, sample
location, sample type (which in
this case is a grab), who
collected the sample, the analysis
date, and who analyzed the
sample. All this information has
areas on the bench sheet to be
recorded.

As you can see, the initial filter

weight of filter one and two are
indicated.

The filter holder is placed on the

vacuum flask and then the filter
is placed on top of the filter
holder by using a pair of
tweezers (these filters are to be
handled by mechanical device
only).

The operator places the filter

holder on top of the filter. Keep
in mind that a filter holder is
actually two pieces - top and
bottom. There is a magnetic strip
to help secure the fit over the
filter.

The 1,000 mL beaker is removed

from the sink. The sample is then
stirred to try to get correct
mixture for sampling.

After stirring the sample, 5 mL is

then poured into a graduated
cylinder.

The vacuum pump is then turned

on and the sample is poured into
the filter holder. It is important
that this process be timed
because the operator has only 10
minutes to allow the sample to
pass through the filter.

Three portions of 10 mL distilled

water is run through the filter
holder to wash down any
particles that may have adhered
to the glass. Allow the vacuum
pump to run an additional three
minutes to help remove any
excess water from the filter
before drying. Cut the vacuum
pump off and remove the filter
from the filter holder and place
in the correct weighing dish.

The number two filter pad is then

placed on the filter holder.
Another sample is then collected
from the 1,000 mL beaker. This
time the amount collected was 4
mL.

The process is repeated again.

After placing the filter on the
filter holder, the vacuum pump is
cut on. In the lower right hand
screen the stop watch can be seen
that is used for timing purposes.

Three portions of 10 mL distilled

water is run through the filter
holder to wash down any
particles that may have adhered
to the glass. Allow the vacuum
pump to run an additional three
minutes to help remove any
excess water from the filter
before drying. Cut the vacuum
pump off and remove the filter
from the filter holder and place
in the correct weighing dish.

The operator now places the two

filters into the drying oven. Note:
The drying oven should be
turned on before the test is ever
started, because the heat up time
between 103 and 105C takes a
few minutes, depending on the
drying oven.

The door is then closed to the

drying oven and the operator
periodically checks the
temperature of the drying oven.
The operator's left hand is on the
thermometer, which actually runs
into the drying oven, to
determine the inside temperature.
The operator's right hand is
pointing to a calibration
deviation that indicates whatever
the thermometer says, he must
subtract 1C from it. At this
plant, all thermometers are
calibrated at least twice each
year to ensure accuracy. After
the drying oven has achieved a
minimum of 103C and no more
than 105C the degrees and time
are then logged on the bench
sheet. All filters will be
maintained between 103 and
105C for a minimum of one
hour.

After a minimum of one hour has

passed the operator does a final
check of the temperature to make
sure that is is between 103 and
105C.

The filters have been allowed to

dry for a minimum of one hour,
the drying oven is then turned
off. The operator then logs the
time that the filters are put in the
desiccator. Each filter is taken
out and placed in the desiccator.
The operator replaces the glass
lid on the desiccator. To achieve
an adequate seal between the lid
of the desiccator a desiccator
sealant that looks simiar to
vaseline is placed around the lid just a thin film of sealant is used.
If there is any excess sealant it
should be removed immediately.
This sealant helps prevent
moisture from entering into the
desiccator. Without the sealant, it
is possible for enough filters to
be placed into a desiccator that as
they cook it may create a vacuum
so powerful that the operator
may damage the desiccator lid
while attempting to remove it.
After the samples have been
placed in the desiccator for at
least 30 minutes, the operator
then removes the two filter
samples.

The first filter is then weighed

and the weight is indicated as
0.1250 grams. It must then be
converted to mg by moving the
decimal point three places to the
right, which would be 125.0 mg.

The second filter is then weighed

and the weight is indicated as
0.1210 grams. It must then be
converted to mg by moving the
decimal point three places to the
right, which would be 121.0 mg.

The information from filter one

and filter two is now placed on
the bench sheet. To get the net
weight, subtract the initial weight
from the total filtered weight.
This gives you the net weight,
which is the amount of solids on
the filter.

After the net weight has been

determined, the next calculations
tot be made determines the true
mg/L of each sample. This is
achieved by multiplying the net
weight of the sample by 1,000
and then divide by the
concentration. The first filter net
weight is 14.9 mg multiplied by
1,000 and then divided by the
sample concentration, which is 5
mL, which gives the mg/L of
2,980. The second filter's net
weight is 10.4 mg multiplied by
1,000 and then divided by the
sample concentration, which is 4
mL, giving the mg/L of 2,600.

To get the average mg/L of

MLSS, take the two filters' mg/L,
which were 2,980 and 2,600.
Add these two together, which
gives you 5,580 and then divide
by 2, giving you 2,790 mg/L of
MLSS.

Note of Interest: It is normal for the mg/L in most wastewater treatment plants to be in a range from
above 1,000, and when it reaches over 4,000 it often causes problems that may upset the efficiency of
the plant. It mostly depends on the size of the plant. Also, the net weight of all MLSS testing must be at
least 10 mg for the test to be valid.