VPE 511: Environment and Environmental Hygiene (2+1)

TOTAL SOLIDS

• The method of determination employed is briefly as follows:- The residue left after evaporating a measured volume of water is weighted and the result calculated to parts per 100,000 of water.
• The estimation is usually carried out on filtered water if appreciable quantities of suspended solids are present, so that suspended solids are reported separately from dissolved solids.
• The residue consists of all the non-volatile substances which were present in solution in the original water.
• The organic content of the residue can be assessed from the appearance of the residue after gentle ignition, considerable charring indicating a high content of organic matter.
• Satisfactory waters rarely contain more than 80 parts per 100,000 of dissolved solids, and for most purposes should contain much less; they rarely contain more than a mere trace of organic matter.