PRACTICAL 4

SETTLEABLE SOLIDS
PRINCIPLE

Settleable solids in surface and saline waters as well as domestic and industrial
wastes may be determined and reported on either a volume (mL/L) or a weight
(mg/L) basis.

APPARATUS

(1) Imhoff cone

MATERIAL

a) Volumetric:
(1) Fill an Imhoff cone to the 1-L mark with a well-mixed sample.

PROCEDURE

(2) Settle for 45 min, gently agitate sample near the sides of the cone with a rod or
by spinning,
(3) Settle 15 min longer, and record volume of settleable solids in the cone as
milliliters per liter.
(4) If the settled matter contains pockets of liquid between large settled particles,
estimate volume of these and subtract from volume of settled solids.
(5) The practical lower limit of measurement depends on sample composition and
generally is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 mL/L.
(6) Where a separation of settleable and floating materials occurs, do not estimate
the floating material as settleable matter.

When biological or chemical floc is present, the gravimetric method is preferred.

b. Gravimetric:
(1) Determine total suspended solids.
(2) Pour a well-mixed sample into a glass vessel of not less than 9 cm diam using
not less than 1 L and sufficient sample to give a depth of 20 cm.
(3) Alternatively use a glass vessel of greater diameter and a larger volume of
sample.
(4) Let stand quiescent for 1 h and, without disturbing the settled or floating
material, siphon 250 mL from center of container at a point halfway between
the surface of the settled material and the liquid surface.
(5) Determine total suspended solids (milligrams per liter) of this supernatant
liquor. These are the nonsettleable solids.
CALCULATION

mg settleable solids/L = A - B

Where A = mg total suspended solids/L

B = mg nonsettleable solids/L

UNIT

mg per litre

EXPRESSION OF

results to be expressed to the nearest whole number

RESULTS

AMMONICAL NITROGEN

Nessler method
INTRODUCTION Ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), is a measure for the amount of ammonia, a

toxic pollutant often found in waste products, such as sewage, liquid manure
and other liquid organic waste products. It can also be used as a measure of
the health of water in natural bodies such as rivers or lakes, or in man made
water reservoirs. Ammonia can directly poison humans and upset the
equilibrium of water systems. The ammoniacal nitrogen levels can be lowered
using a sequencing batch reactor. The values of ammoniacal nitrogen in water
or waste liquids are measured in milligram per liter and are used for
specifying water treatment systems and facilities.

APPARATUS

Mixing cylinder, graduated, 25-mL with stopper

MATERIAL

Pipet,

Nessler Reagent

PROCEDURE

(1) Prepare the sample: Fill a mixing cylinder to the 25-mL line with sample.
(2) Prepare the blank: Fill a mixing cylinder to the 25-mL line with deionized
water.
(3) Add 3 drops of Mineral Stabilizer to each mixing cylinder.
(4) Put the stopper on the mixing cylinders. Invert the mixing cylinders several
times to mix.
(5) Add 3 drops of Polyvinyl Alcohol Dispersing Agent to each mixing cylinder.
(6) Put the stopper on the mixing cylinders. Invert the mixing cylinders several
times to mix.
(7) Use a pipet to add 1.0 mL of Nessler Reagent to each mixing cylinder.
(8) Put the stopper on the mixing cylinders. Invert the mixing cylinders several
times to mix.
(9) Start the instrument timer. A 1-minute reaction time starts.
(10) Pour 10 mL from the blank cylinder into a sample cell.
(11) When the timer expires, clean the blank sample cell.e
(12) Insert the blank into the cell holder.
(13) Push ZERO. The display shows 0.00 mg/L NH3N.

(14) Pour 10 mL from the sample cylinder into a second sample cell.
(15) Clean the prepared sample cell.
(16) Insert the prepared sample into the cell holder.
(17) Results show in mg/L NH3N.
UNIT
mg per litre**
EXPRESSION
OF RESULTS

The Mineral Stabilizer complexes hardness in the sample. The Polyvinyl Alcohol
Dispersing Agent helps the color formation in the reaction of Nessler Reagent with
ammonia and certain other amines. A yellow color is formed that is proportional to
the ammonia concentration. The measurement wavelength is 425 nm.