Jar Testing of Chemical

Dosages

Prepared By
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Operator Training and Certification Unit

Jar Testing
Determination of most effective chemical
Determination of most effective dosage
Determination of optimum point of
application
Evaluation of
polymers

Jar Testing
Equipment Needed:
Gang Stirrer
6 Graduated Beakers, 1500 ml
2 Graduated Pipets, 10 ml
1 Graduated Cylinder, 1000 ml
Scale for weighing chemicals
Analytical Equipment

Jar Testing
Preparation of Stock Solutions
For alum, lime, other dry materials:
Use a 1 % solution. Dissolve 10 grams
into 1000 ml distilled water.
(1 ml = 10 mg/l in 1000 ml)

Preparation of Stock Solutions

For Ferric Chloride, other liquid materials:
Use a 1 % solution. Obtain % solution and
specific gravity from supplier.
Dilute appropriate volume up to 1000 ml to
make a 1 % (10,000 mg/L) solution.
(1ml=10 mg/l in 1000 ml)

Solution
Solution Dilution
Dilution
Have 45 % Ferric Chloride Solution
(Specific Gravity 1.49)
Need 1000 mls of a 1 % (10,000 mg/L) Sol.
C1 X V1 = C2 X V2
C1 = 45 % (weighs 1.49 grams/ml)
V1 = ? ml
C2 = 1 % (weighs 1.00 grams/ml
V2 = 1000 ml
45 % X 1.49 X V1 = 1 % X 1000 ml
V1 =

1 % X 1000 ml
45 % X 1.49

= 14.91 ml

Jar Testing
Preparation of Stock Solutions
For Dry or Liquid Polymers:
Use a 0.01 % (100 mg/L) solution. Weigh
0.1 gram and dissolve in 1000 ml distilled
water.
(1 ml = 0.1 mg/l in 1000 ml)

Jar Testing Calculations

1000 ml

Blank

5 mg/L

10 mg/L 15 mg/L 20 mg/L 25 mg/L

Calculate the volume of a 1 % Ferric

Chloride solution that would be added to
get the dosage required.
1% = 10,000 mg/L
10,000 mg/L X ? ml = 5 mg/L X 1000 ml
? ml = 5 mg/L X 1000 ml
10,000 mg/L
? ml = 5 X 0.1 = 0.5 ml

10 X 0.1 = 1.0 ml
15 X 0.1 = 1.5 ml
20 X 0.1 = 2.0 ml
25 X 0.1 = 2.5 ml

Jar Testing Calculations

A jar test indicates that the required amount of
phosphorus removal can be achieved using a dosage of
3 ml of a 1% ferric chloride solution in a liter of
wastewater. What is the dosage in mg/L?

C1 X V1 = C2 X V2
10,000 mg/L X 3 ml = ? mg/L X 1000 ml
10,000 mg/L X 3 ml = 30 mg/L
1000 ml

Jar Testing

Procedure
Using the 1000 ml graduated cylinder, add 1000
ml wastewater to each beaker.
Using the graduated pipets, dose each beaker
with the desired concentration of metal salt or
polymer, increasing concentration from left to
right.
Operate stirrer to simulate plant process.
Determine best dosage level by analysis of
supernatant

Gang Stirrer

Addition of Chemicals
Rapid Mix
Slow Mix - Flocculate
Settle

Determine which dosage is best for meeting requirements

Chemical
Chemical Handling
Handling
After jar testing has been used to determine best
chemical dosage in mg/L, pounds of chemical
needed per day into a given flow or volume can
be calculated.

lbs/day = MGD X 8.34 lbs/gal X mg/L

ie) A dosage of 25 mg/L Ferric Chloride is
needed. The flow to be treated is 350,000
gallons per day. How many lbs of Ferric
Chloride will have to be fed each day?

lbs/D = 0.35 MGD X 8.34 lbs/gal X 25 mg/L

= 73 lbs/D FeCL3

Chemical
Chemical Handling
Handling
Given lbs/d of dry chemical to feed, need to
calculate the gallons of solution to feed.

Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity = the number of times
heavier or lighter the solution is than water
1 gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs
Specific gravity of water = 1.000

Specific Gravity
If a solution has a Specific Gravity of 1.510,
then this solution is 1.510 times heavier than
water.
8.34 lbs/gal X 1.510 = 12.59 lbs/gal
A solution with a Specific Gravity of 0.750
would weigh:
8.34 lbs/gal X 0.750 = 6.255 lbs/gal

Obtain S.G. from Supplier

or by Using a Hydrometer

Chemical
Chemical Handling
Handling
Strength of Concentrated Solutions are
usually given as Percent by Weight

35 % = 35 per 100

35 lbs dry chem

35 % =
100 lbs solution

In 100 lbs of a 35 % solution there are 35 lbs of

dry chemical

If the weight of a gallon of solution is known, the

weight of dry chemical in each gallon of the
solution can be calculated:
A 40% solution has a specific gravity of 1.43
A. Determine the weight of a gallon of the solution.
8.34 lbs/gallon X 1.43 = 11.93 lbs per gallon liquid
B. Determine the lbs of dry chemical in each gallon.
11.93 lbs X
OR

40 lbs dry chem

= 4.77 lbs dry chem/ gal
100 lbs solution

11.93 lbs X 0.40 = 4.77 lbs dry chem/ gal

Chemical
Chemical Handling
Handling
Feed Rates
If the lbs per day of chemical to be fed is
known, and we know the pounds of dry
chemical in each gallon of the solution, the
gallons per day of solution to be fed can be
calculated.

lbs/day dry chem needed

= gal/day soln to be fed
lbs dry chem / gal

Chemical
Chemical Handling
Handling
ie) 150 lbs per day ferric chloride are to be fed.
The solution to be used is 38% with a
specific gravity of 1.413. Calculate the
gallons of solution to feed each day.
8.34 lbs/gal X 1.413 = 11.78 lbs/gal
0.38 X 11.78 lbs/gal = 4.48 lbs dry chem/gal
150 lbs/d dry chem needed
=
33.5
gal/day
4.48 lbs dry chem/gal

Chemical
Chemical Handling
Handling
Pumping Rate Calculations
Given gallons per day of chemical
needed, calculate gallons per
minute
Gal X
Day

1 Day X
24 Hrs

1 Hr
=
60 Min

Gal
Min

Calibration of Chemical Feed Pump

1. Set pump at known setting
2. Start pump and collect at the application
point a measured amount in a known
period of time.
3. Repeat for various settings.
4. Convert to needed units.
mls X
Sec

1 Gal X
3785 mls

60 Sec =
Min

Gal
Min

Chemical Feed Summary

1. Determine lbs/day of dry chemical needed.
mg/L X MGD X 8.34 lbs/gal = lbs/d dry chem
2. Determine the weight (lbs/gal) of the soln.
8.34 lbs/gal X Sp.Gr. = lbs/gal (liquid weight)
3. Determine weight of dry chem in each gallon.
lbs/gal (liquid wt) X % soln = lbs dry/gallon
4. Determine gallons per day to be fed.
Lbs dry needed per day = gal/day to be fed
lbs dry/gallon
5. To Determine pumping rate in gallons/minute:
gal
Day

1 Day
24 Hrs

1 Hr
60 Min

Gal
Min

Chemical Handling Calculations Example Problem #1

Jar Test Results 23 mg/L FeCl3 Dosage Needed
Wastewater Flow
300,000 gallons per day
Ferric Chloride Solution
Specific Gravity 1.500
Concentration 45 %

Work Calculations on Separate Paper

Answers Given on Next Slides
1. Calculate the pounds per day of FeCl3 that must be added to the wastewater flow.
2. Calculate the weight in pounds of a gallon of the FeCl3 solution.
3. Calculate the pounds of dry FeCl3 per gallon of the solution.
4. Calculate the number of gallons of the FeCl3 solution that must be fed per day.
5. How many gallons per minute must the chemical feed pump be set to deliver ?

Chemical Handling Calculations Example Problem #1

Jar Test Results 23 mg/L FeCl3 Dosage Needed
Wastewater Flow
300,000 gallons per day
Ferric Chloride Solution
Specific Gravity 1.500
Concentration 45 %

1. Calculate the pounds per day of FeCl3 that must

be added to the wastewater flow.
lbs/d = 23 mg/L X 8.34 lbs/gal X 0.30 MGD
= 57.55 lbs/d

2. Calculate the weight in pounds of a gallon of

the FeCl3 solution.
8.34 lbs/gal X 1.500 = 12.51 lbs/gal
3. Calculate the pounds of dry FeCl3 per gallon
of the solution.
12.51 lbs/gal X 0.45 = 5.63 lbs dry/gallon

4. Calculate the number of gallons of the FeCl3

solution that must be fed per day.
57.55 lbs/day needed
= 10.2 gallons/day
5.63 lbs dry/gallon
5. How many gallons per minute must the
chemical feed pump be set to deliver ?
10.2 gal
X 1 Day X
Day
24 Hrs
0.0071 gal X
min

1 Hr
=
60 Min

0.0071 Gal
Min

3785 mls = 26.12 ml/min

gal

Chemical Handling Calculations Example Problem #2

Calculate the number of milliliters per minute that must be
fed of a 49 % Aluminum Sulfate solution with a specific
gravity of 1.33 to dose a flow of 150,000 gallons per day at
25 mg/L.
Work Calculations on Separate Paper
Answers Given on Next Slide

Chemical Handling Calculations Example Problem #2

Calculate the number of milliliters per minute that must be
fed of a 49 % Aluminum Sulfate solution with a specific
gravity of 1.33 to dose a flow of 150,000 gallons per day at
25 mg/L.

25 mg/L X 0.15 MGD X 8.34 lbs/gal = 31.28 lbs/d

8.34 lbs/gal X 1.33 X 0.49 = 5.44 lbs dry/gal
31.28 lbs dry needed/day = 5.75 gal/day
5.44 lbs dry/gallon
5.75 gal
1 day
X 3785 mls X
= 15.11 ml/min
day
gal
1440 min

Chemical Handling Calculations Example Problem #3

120 gallons/day of a ferric chloride solution was

fed into a flow of 2.5 MGD. The ferric chloride
solution had a concentration of 40 % and a
specific gravity of 1.430. Calculate the chemical
dosage in mg/L.
Work Calculations on Separate Paper
Answers Given on Next Slide

Chemical Handling Calculations Example Problem #3

120 gallons/day of a ferric chloride solution was

fed into a flow of 2.5 MGD. The ferric chloride
solution had a concentration of 40 % and a
specific gravity of 1.430. Calculate the chemical
dosage in mg/L.

8.34 lbs/gal X 1.430 X 0.40 = 4.77 lbs dry/gal

120 gal X 4.77 lbs dry/gal = 572.5 lbs dry/day
572 lbs/day = 2.5 MGD X 8.34 lbs/gal X mg/L
572 lbs/day
= 27.5 mg/L
2.5 MGD X 8.34 lbs/gal

Jar Testing of Chemical

Dosages

Prepared By
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Operator Training and Certification Unit