Total Solids, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Volatile Suspended Solids

870

Total Solids, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Volatile Suspended Solids

TS, TSS, TDS, VSS

Summary

This method quantifies solids in water or wastewater samples using gravimetric analysis following oven drying. Solids refer to matter suspended or dissolved in the water or wastewater and may affect water or effluent quality in adverse ways. Waters with high dissolved solids generally are of inferior palatability and may induce unfavorable physiological reactions in transient consumers. Solids analyses are important in the control of biological and physical wastewater treatment processes and for assessing compliance with regulatory agency limitations. The method has a detection limit of approximately 4 mg/L for TSS and 10 mg/L for TDS, TS and VSS. The results are generally reproducible within 10%. Sample should be kept under refrigeration until analysis can be completed.

Sample amount requested for TS: 500 mL Sample amount requested for TDS and/or TSS and/or VSS: 500 mL Questions concerning limited sample size can be answered by the UC Davis Analytical Laboratory.

Method 2540 B. (Total Solids Dried at 103-105ºC), Method 2540 C. (Total Dissolved Solids Dried at 180ºC), Method 2540 D. (Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103-105ºC) and Method 2540 E. (Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited at 550ºC) in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th Edition. Clesceri, L. S.; Greenberg, A. E.; and Eaton, A. D.; eds. American Public Health Association; WashingtonDC; 1998. pp. 2-55 – 59.