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CONTENT

PAGE

1.0

SUMMARY

2.0

INTRODUCTION & THEORIES

3.0

OBJECTIVES

4.0

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

5.0

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

10

1.0 SUMMARY

The main objective of jar testing was to study the relationship of heavy metal removal
and pH of the samples together to understand the process of coagulation and flocculation. In
this experiment, the mechanism used of jar testing is to measure the degree of the water loses
its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates. Simply, it is known as
turbidity. In the first set, 6 beakers were filled with samples. Poly aluminium chloride (PAC)
was drop into the specific sample with series of 0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, 1.5, ml 2.0 ml and 2.5 ml. The
last beaker set as control as it is without PAC. As the result, the most turbidity measured at
the control beaker which is 80.0 NTU and the minimum turbidity was at beaker 5 with 4.68
NTU utilising 2.5 ml PAC. It found that the dose as the coagulant dosage increased the
turbidity become lesser. The function of agitation into the samples at 200 rpm was to help the
suspended particles to have the contact with PAC. By reducing the speed of agitator into 50
rpm used to help the formation of flocs at the bottom. The second set experiment was to
determine the efficient pH for samples to remove turbidity by using the optimum PAC which
was 2.5 ml into all sample series. Meanwhile, the pH of each sample was adjusted from
6,7,8,9 and 10. After the agitating process, it was found that the lowest turbidity was in
beaker 3 with pH 7 (7.07 NTU). Finally, it was found that the sample contains manganese
with concentration of 0.024 mg/L, iron 1.040 mg/L and zinc 0.050 mg/L.

2.0 INTRODUCTION & THEORIES

The treatability of a water source, including the determination of optimal conditions for
specic parameters (most effective coagulant, dosage rates, pH, velocity gradient and mixing
time), is conventionally performed at bench-scale using standard jar test experiments. The
performance of these experiments is generally determined through measuring turbidity and/or
colour removal. Although this method of performance measure can provide sufcient
information to permit pilot- or full-scale implementation, it does possess inherent limitations
as it provides no information on oc particle size and structure

Figure 1 : Jar Testing

The size distribution of oc particles is an important design and control parameter during
coagulation-occulation(Spicer et al., 1996). In combination with oc particle structure and
density, the size distribution of oc particles is of great signicance in solid-liquid separation
processes such as sedimentation .Floc size and structure are inuenced by several operational
parameters and directly impacts oc density which controls solid removal efciency during
sedimentation .During coagulation-occulation, both oc particle size and structure undergo
transitional phases. Initially, upon coagulant dosage, there is a period of rapid oc growth in
which the size and structure of the oc aggregates are dynamic in nature. This is followed by
a steady- state region or equilibrium between particle growth and fragmentation for a specic
period, during which, the oc particle size does not change. The shape of the particle size
distribution curve is critical as it inuences coagulation-occulation kinetics, the rate of oc

growth, oc characteristics and solid removal processes. It is therefore very important to

rapidly quantify both size and structure of aggregates to generate a particle size distribution
curve with a reasonable amount of accuracy.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The objective of jar testing was to study the relationship of heavy metal removal and
pH

3.0 RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Table 3.1 Turbidity reading of samples with different amount of coagulation dosage
Jar

Turbidity, NTU
Before
After

Coagulation
pH

Dosage (mL)

Experiment

Experiment

Controlled

88.3

80.0

7.72

88.3

51.3

7.72

0.5

88.3

15.1

7.72

1.0

88.3

6.56

7.72

1.5

88.3

12.3

7.72

2.0

88.3

4.68

7.72

2.5

Table 3.2: Turbidity reading of samples with different pH values and optimum coagulation
dosage (mL)
Jar

Turbidity, NTU
Before
After

Coagulation
pH

Dosage (mL)

Experiment

Experiment

88.3

18.40

2.5

88.3

7.07

2.5

88.3

9.55

2.5

88.3

13.40

2.5

88.3

13.90

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2.5

Table 3.3: Heavy metal readings in beaker 2 with pH 7

Heavy Metal
Manganese
Iron
Zinc

Concentration (mg/L)
0.024
1.040
0.050

Dissolved and suspended particles are present in most of natural waters. These
suspended materials mostly arise from land erosion, the dissolution of minerals, decay of
vegetation, domestic and industrial waste discharges. Such material may include dissolved
organic or inorganic matter as well as several biological organisms, such as bacteria, algae or
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viruses as well as heavy metals (Lehmann, 2007). As it entering the water bodies, it causes
deterioration of water quality. The particles should be making sure removed from the water
before for the public use. One of the methods of treating these suspended particles is jar
testing. Jar testing is a pilot scale test of the treatment chemicals used in a particular water
plant. It simulates the coagulation-flocculation process in a water treatment plant and helps
on determining of the right amount of treatment chemical to improve the plants performance.
In the experiment of jar testing, the main objective was to study the relationship of heavy
metal removal and pH of the samples together to understand the process of coagulation and
flocculation (Hughes, 2001).
In the first set of experiment, there are 6 beakers of samples being labelled as sample
1 until 5. The last sample was the controlled one. The initial pH value of all beakers was 7.72
and their turbidity was 88.3 NTU. Based on this experiment, the first jar is serving as a
control and no coagulant was added. Then, series amount of Poly Aluminium Chloride
(PAC) were added into specific beaker which were started with 0.5 ml of PAC into sample 1,
1.0 ml into beaker 2, 1.5 ml into beaker 3, 2.0 ml into beaker 4 and 2.5 ml of PAC into
beaker 5. In water being treated for metals, an anionic polymer is commonly used. Polymer
addition should be made with good mixing to evenly distribute the polymer throughout the
water. The addition of excess coagulant may reduce turbidity beyond what is required but
also could lead to the production of more sludge which would require disposal (Hughes,
2001). The samples were agitated in the jar for 1 minute with 200 rpm and 3 minutes with 50
rpm. Finally, the samples were let to be settled within 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the
turbidity of each samples were measured. It is found that the minimum turbidity was in
beaker 5 (4.68 NTU) which utilised the highest amount of coagulate dosage which is 2.5 mL.
Meanwhile, the highest turbidity was the controlled one which was without adding the PAC
(80.0 NTU). The sample with less turbidity looked clearer than the other samples (Lehmann,
2007).
Theoretically, poly aluminium chloride as the coagulant used to assist with the
removal of colour and turbidity present in the samples by forming settleable particles in the
form of flocs in the bottom of the beaker. Coagulants may be classified as being inorganic or
organic. Inorganic coagulants include those commonly used chemicals that rely on
aluminium or iron. With the used of aluminium-based coagulants, the metal ion is hydrolysed
to form aluminium hydroxide flocs as well as hydrogen ions (Hughes, 2001). The hydrogen
7

ions will react with the alkalinity of the water and in the process, decrease the pH of the
water. According to Exall (2005), stated that as the dose of coagulant increased the residual
turbidity improved. Other than that, the function of agitation into the samples was to help the
suspended particles to have the contact with PAC to form the flocs (Stechemesser & Dobias,
2005).
Then, the second set of experiment was utilized the optimum coagulant which remove
the most turbidity. Second set experiment utilise 5 beakers of samples and labelled from 1
until 5. Before the experiment started, the turbidity of each samples were checked which was
88.3 NTU. Then, the samples were set into different pH by adding the Sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) solution and Sulpuric acid (H 2SO4). The series of pH were pH 6 (beaker 1), pH 7
(beaker 2), pH 8 (beaker 3), pH 9 (beaker 4), pH 10 (beaker 5). All samples were added with
2.5 ml of poly aluminium chloride and let agitated. The steps were the same. Then, the
turbidity of all samples were measured and tabulated in table 3.2. The highest turbidity in
beaker 1 with pH 6 which is 18.40 NTU followed by beaker 5 with pH 10 which is13.90
NTU, beaker 4 which is 13.40 NTU, beaker 3 with pH 8 which is 9.55 NTU and the lowest is
in beaker 3 with pH 7 which is 7.07 NTU. Coagulant has a narrow optimum operating pH
range. For example, alum tends to work best at a dosed-water pH of 5.8-7.0. If the pH is
lower or higher than this optimum, then problems of high residual colour and aluminium or
disinfection by-products may occur in the finished water. Theoretically, good flocculation
performance can achieve if the pH is higher than a certain range. Lower pH is favorable for
negatively charged particle to destabilize and aggregate. Under such a circumstance, using a
small amount of flocculants can get good flocculation performance. However, the optimum
pH should be a range that is feasible in practice. When pH in the range of 6.5~8.5, there are
no corrosion and incrustation (Robert, 2002). Finally, heavy metal of the sample in beaker pH
7 was determined. It found that there were manganese with concentration of 0.024 mg/L, iron
1.040 mg/L and zinc 0.050 mg/L.

4.0 CONCLUSION

Turbidity is essentially a measure of the cloudiness of the water which indicates the
presence of colloidal particles. The suspended particles must be treated and removed from
the water before being used. Generally, jar testing is a method for determining the amount of
chemical used when treating wastewater. According to the first experiment, the most turbidity
measured at the control beaker which is 80.0 NTU and the minimum turbidity was at beaker
5 with 4.68 NTU. The dose of coagulant increased the residual turbidity improved.
Meanwhile for the second set experiment, the optimum pH 7 was more favourable for the
coagulation and flocculation. Poly aluminium chloride used in the experiment was the
coagulant which will helps samples forming flocs in the bottom of the beaker. Anionic
polymer gives good mixing to evenly distribute the polymer throughout the water. 3 types of
heavy metal found in the solution which are manganese with concentration of 0.024 mg/L,
iron 1.040 mg/L and zinc 0.050 mg/L.
It is recommended to study other factors that may affect the coagulation and
flocculation such as temperature and agitation speed. Other than that, it is advised to study
the turbidity from various discharged either from domestics and industries to compare which
one has the highest turbidity and heavy metal content. Lastly, it is advised to use the titration
method while adjusting pH sample to minimize the error.

REFERENCES
Exall, K. (2005). Coagulation and Flocculation. Water Encyclopedia.
doi:10.1002/047147844x.pc1505
Hughes, M. (2001). Coagulation and flocculation. Solid-Liquid Separation, 104-129.
doi:10.1016/b978-075064568-3/50028-6
Lehmann, E. J. (2007). Wastewater treatment using flocculation, coagulation, and flotation:
A bibliography with abstracts. Springfield, VA: National Technical Information
Service.
Robert, K. (2002). Removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Metal Finishing, 100(5), 86.
doi:10.1016/s0026-0576(02)80419-6
Stechemesser, H., & Dobias, B. (2005). Coagulation and flocculation. Boca Raton: Taylor &
Francis.

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APPENDIXES
PREPARATION OF REAGENT

To prepare 1% of Sodium Hydroxide

1
x 100 mL of water =1 gram of sodium hydroxide
100

To prepare 0.01 M of sulphuric acid

M1V1 = M2V2
(1.1)

(100 mL) = 0.98 (V)

V = 1.02 mL sulphuric acid

To prepare 0.01 M poly aluminium chloride

(1.2)

(100 mL) = 0.18 (V)

V = 5.56 mL poly aluminium chloride

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