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Chemical Reagents
All chemicals used in the experiment were available in the laboratory and provided
Magnesium chloride
Sodium acetate
Potassium nitrate
Acetic acid
Apparatus
The apparatus that were used by the researchers were all accessible in the laboratory,
Tong Pipetol
Method
Grab sample method was used in the collection of water sample. A grab sample is
manipulated, measured, calculated and compared by the researchers. The main goal of the
study is to determine and analyze the amount of solids in the water sample obtained in the
river using a multiple heating, desiccation and the Buchner Funnel set-up.
Quantitative approach was employed in the study since the set variables and gathered
data were numerical values and treatment of data proceeded through numerical comparison.
The water sample used by the researchers was collected on the 8th day of March 2019
at approximately 12:45 in the afternoon at BSU Compound Housing near Balili Daycare
Descriptive observations were observed but data gathered in the study were mostly
numerical values using the analytical balance. The experiment performed was based from
Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of 2016 and the Standard Methods
For the success and safety of the study, professional guidance from the instructor and
In the experiment, the determination of solids, total, suspended, dissolved, fixed, and
volatile in the water samples from the different sampling points along Balili River were
considered. The experiment was made possible by incorporating different apparatus and
following procedures orderly and accurately. In performing the experiment, the apparatus
used were crucibles for the determination of total as well as dissolved solids, filter papers for
the determination of suspended solids, pipette and pipetol for the measurement of the exact
amount of the samples, desiccator for the storage of filter papers and crucibles keeping it
moisture-free, drying oven operated at 103-105°C and 180°C for the measurement of total
solids and dissolved solids respectively, analytical balance for constant weighing purpose,
steam bath for the source of heat, muffle furnace operated at 550°C for the measurement of
volatile and fixed solids, filtration apparatus which included membrane filter funnel and
A sample volume of 25 mL that will yield a residue between 2.5 and 200 mg was
chosen to experiment on. The sample volumes of the well-mixed samples were pipetted
during mixing to the pre-weighed crucibles. These were evaporated to dryness on a steam
bath or in a drying oven. The samples were stirred with a stirrer during transfer. The
evaporated samples were dried for at least one hour in an oven at 103 to 105°C. The
crucibles were cooled in desiccators to balance temperature and these were weighed
afterwards. The cycle of drying, cooling, desiccating, and weighing were repeated until
constant weights were obtained, or until weight difference is 0.0003. When weighing dried
samples, it was noted to be alert in the change in weights due to air exposure and/or sample
degradation.
In the determination of total solids, water samples were stirred with a stirrer and
measured volumes of water samples were pipetted each onto a glass-fiber filter with applied
vacuum. In each trial, the filter was washed with three successive 10 ml volumes of reagent-
grade water in which complete drainage between washings was allowed, and the suction
continued for about three minutes after filtration was complete. The total filtrates (with
washings) were transferred into each weighed crucibles. These were evaporated to dryness
on a steam bath or in a drying oven. The evaporated samples were dried for at least one hour
in an oven at 180±2°C. The crucibles were cooled in desiccators to balance temperature and
these were weighed afterwards. The cycle of drying, cooling, desiccating, and weighing
were repeated until constant weights were obtained, or until weight changes were less than
4% of previous weights. When weighing dried samples, it was noted to be alert in the
through the weighed standard glass-fiber filters and the residue retained on each filter was
dried to a constant weight at 103 to 105°C. The increase in weight of the filter represented
the total suspended solids. It was also necessary that if the suspended material clogged the
filter and prolonged filtration, there is a need to increase the diameter of the filter or decrease
the sample volume. An estimate of total suspended solids can be obtained by the difference
The residues produced from the previous sample analyses were ignited to constant
weights in a muffle furnace at 550°C. A blank glass fiber filter was ignited along with
samples. The temperature was met before inserting the sample. Usually, fifteen to twenty
minutes ignition were required for 200 mg residue. However, more than one sample and/or
heavier residues may had overtax the furnace and necessitate longer ignition times. The
crucible or filter disk was cooled partially in air until most of the heat had been dissipated.
Each was transferred to a desiccator for final cooling in a dry atmosphere. The desiccator
must not be overloaded. Each filter and crucible was weighed as soon as it had cooled to
balance temperature. The cycle of drying, cooling, desiccating, and weighing were repeated
until constant weights were obtained, or until weight difference is 0.0003 of previous
weights. When weighing dried samples, it was noted to be alert in the changes in weights
due to air exposure and/or sample degradation. Weight loss of the blank filter was an