TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Experiment title

2.0 Objectives

3.0 Apparatus

4.0 Introduction

5.0 Procedure

6.0 Data, Observation and Calculation

2
7.0 Discussion

8.0 Conclusion

9.0 References

10.0 Appendix

1.0 Experiment Title

Suspended Solids (SS)
2.0 Objective
To determine the suspended solids in a given sample
3.0 Apparatus
1. Two Petri dishes
2. Drying oven
3. Dessicator
4. 2 graduated cylinders
5. Beaker
6. 2 filter papers
7. Analytical balance
8. Conical flask
4.0 Introduction
This experiment is done to determine the total suspended solids in a
50 ml of water sample taken from the pond behind the Block B building at
UiTMSamarahanKampus 1. This experiment is done 2 times to determine
the average value of the suspended solids.
Total solids are the material residue left after evaporation of a
sample and its subsequent drying in an oven. Some factors that affect the
separation of suspended from dissolved solids are pore size, porosity,
particle size and amount of material deposited on the filter paper.
Dissolved solids are solids that passes a 2 m while suspended solids is
the portion retained on the filter.
According to Total Suspended Solids (TSS), high concentration of
suspended solids will make the water warmer thus decreasing the ability
of water to hold oxygen and this will also prevent aquatic lives to live in
the water.
5.0 Procedure
Preparations:
1. Two filter papers were marked as A and B respectively.
2. The petri dishes and the filter papers were placed in the oven
at 105C for 1 hour.
3. The filter papers and petri dishes were removed from the oven
after 1 hour.
4. The filter papers and petri dishes were then placed in the
dessicator for 4 minutes.
5. The weight of all the apparatus were taken immediately after
completing step 4.
Experiment:
1. Both filter papers were folded into a cone shape and placed on
top of the conical flask.
2. 10 ml of distilled water is passed through both of the filter
papers 3 times to ensure that the filter paper is clean.
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3. 50 ml of water sample from the pond is filtered.

4. The filter papers were placed on the petri dishes and dried in
the oven at 105C for 1 hour.
5. The final weight of the filter papers are weighed and recorded.

6.0 Data, Observation and Calculation

Table 6.1: Experiment results
Filter Paper

Sample volume

50

50

(mL)
Filter Paper, X

1309

1303

(mg)
Filter Paper + dried

1258

1256

Average

-102 0

-940

-980

residue, Y (mg)
SS
(mg/L)

SS (mg/L) =

( Y X ) 1000
mLsample

X = Mass of empty filter (mg)

Y = Mass of filter paper + dried residue (mg)
Calculation of data:
SS (mg/L) =

( 12581309 ) 1000
50 mL

= -1020 mg/L

7.0 Discussion
From the data obtained and calculated, the value of suspended solid
for sample 1 is higher than sample 2, which means that sample 1 might
contain more organic matter than sample 2. However, the value for the
suspended solids for both samples is negative.
By referring to the National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia, it
is found out that this value is not in range, which means that the
experiment is unsuccessful probably due to an error during the
experiment by the experimenters.
This is probablydue to the filter paper that does not dried for a
longer period of time in the oven, therefore the residual moisture might
not be totally removed which affect the reading of weight of the filter
paper. Another error is that the samples might have been cooled under
improper desiccation.
Next, the water was disturbed while it is being filtered; where the
water was not let to trickle freely, it was somewhat forced, by moving
the filter paper; and this might also contribute to the negative value that
is obtained.
Therefore, some precautions must be observed while performing the
experiment which is students should be aware that prolonged drying may
result in loss of constituents, particularly nitrates and chlorides. Besides
that, volume of samples should be adjusted to have residue left after
drying as 100 to 200mg. It is mainly to prevent large amount of residue in
entrapping water during evaporation. Lastly, the experimenter should not
forget to dry the filter paper in the oven so the value of total suspended
solid can be obtained.
The permissible values of suspended solids are:
25 mg/l for water in Class I which is water in conservation of natural
environment, where no treatment is necessary and habitat for very
sensitive aquatic species
50 mg/l for water in Class IIA which needs conventional treatment
and habitat for sensitive aquatic species
50.0 mg/l for water that is used for recreational purpose; with body
contact
150 mg/l for water in Class III where extensive treatment is required
and is common with economic values and tolerant species and also
for livestock drinking
300 mg/l for water in Class IV which is water in irrigation
300 mg/l for water in Class V which is other than waters in Class
I,II,III and IV
(Source: National Water Quality Standards)
8.0 Conclusion
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As the conclusion, the samples cannot be classified based on DOE

Water Quality Index Classification because the results from the
experiment is not valid, therefore it cannot be determined whether the
samples is clean, slightly polluted or polluted and the objective for this
experiment; which is to determine the suspended solids in a given sample
cannot be achieved.

9.0 References
1. Standard Methods for the Examinations of Water and Wastewater,
retrieved from
ftp://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/ibr/002.apha.method.2320.1992.ht
ml on 25th July 2015.
2. Total Suspended Solids (TSS), retrieved from
https://www.ndhealth.gov/WQ/SW/Z6_WQ_Standards/WQ_TSS.htm
on 25th July 2015.
3. National Water Quality Standards, retrieved from
http://www.gunungganang.com.my/pdf/Malaysian-PoliciesStandards-Guidelines/Standards/National%20Water%20Quality
%20Standards.pdf on 25th July 2015
4. Total and Volatile Suspended Solids. Retrieved
fromwww.ce.wsu.edu/facstaff/~yonge/ce515/TSSVSS.pdf on 25th
July 2015.

10.0 Appendix
Table 10.1: National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia