The use of filters with a specific pore size is the only simple method for measuring total suspended solids (TSS) . You can't use crucibles for measuring TSS, crucibles are good for measuring total solids (TS) which include the suspended and dissolved solids.

without filter paper, it may be difficult to estimate TSS . Turbidity meter can also be attempted.

You can use Turbidity to estimate TSS. there is a relationship between turbidity as NTU with TSS as mg/L . TSS(mg/L)=TSS factor *(T) ,T=turbidity ,NTU . Tss factor is ranged from 2.3-2.4 to 1.3-1.6 for secondary effluent to filtered secondary effluent respectively This equation is mentioned In the Reference Wastewater Engineering Treatment and Reuse -Metcalf &Eddy Fourth Edition 2003 page 51-52

Of course, the method narrated by Mr. Abbas Hadi Abbas can be followed, provided a pre-determined factor mentioned above has been determined accurately. This factor is varying with the type of wastewater. Also this result could vary with fluctuations in current and voltage to the turbidi-meter. So gravimetric method with two-three trials is the best one for good results.

I agree absolutely with Suneeth Kumar Saragur . The best way of determination is gravimetric method for your purposes. Should you have any problem with paper filters, you can use another filters made from other material than paper, e.g. cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate.

Regards

Vit

Yes you are correct and the TDS meter is readily available and cheaper.

you can use a regression with a colorimeter

Either centrifugation or tube suction of the liquid might do it without filter paper.

I agree with centrifugation Vijay Sodhi

Dear OA.

In any liquid in storage or in movement, the solids that prevail, are in 3 spaces.

Floaters:

One group of particles that are very light ie less denser than the liquid.

Sinkers:

The group of particles that are dense and more denser and these sink to lower level.

Suspension:

Then there are particles that are deciding to join the ' floaters ' raise upwards.

And there are those that are in process to join the sinkers and descend downwards.

Therefore, these 3 of the distinct set of particles form the TSS ie Total Suspended Solids.

If one desires a clean and clear liquid, then it is desired to have the zero TSS liquid. To achieve this, can do a set of practices, as given below;

1. Settling process with a bit of warming of the liquid.

2. Adding up a treatment liquid for coalescing the particles and making them denser to sink at bottom of the container. Thus they are drained out and TSS removed as far as possible.

3. The other set of particles that are needed to be facilitated to become lighter and raise to the top.

Here too a treatment is done which introduces vapour bubbles that cling to the particles making them like ' scum ' that floats .

These set of particles are skimmed out by having a surface flow facilitated.

4. Then now it leaves the particles in suspension, that can be removed out by separation process by ' centrifuges ' using centrifugal separation.

5. Centrifuges:

There are 2 types of Centrifuges,

- one called ' purifier ' which separates any denser liquid and solid in 2 stream flows. eg say a matter like oil having water and particles. Water and particles are removed in 2 separate flows and dealt with.

- the other type of centrifuge is termed a ' clarifier ' this separates the solids and liquid.

These methods may be applied with filteration - coarse, medim, fine , micro and nano .

Given as ppm purity.

Well wishes .

I really like your answer Ajit Seshadri

Thank you all for your answer. As reading the above answer, I think I need to use the gravimetric analysis. I was also suggested by Jose Guerrero to get the relation of TSS vs Absorbance and find the equation, which can make life easier (will test that one as well).

Abbas Hadi Abbas : I would try to get the factor to get the TSS and checked it. Hope it work

Some very informal notes about gravimetry:

The solids in a fluid could be classified in several ways. Let’s take an example: if you make tea, putting the leaves on the teapot, with hot water for some minutes, if you screen/filter the liquid you will drink or beverage that is dissolved solids in hot water. The material retained in the filter or mesh are the suspended solids.

If you forget the teapot, with the tea leaves liquid, in the fire probably all the water will be evaporated and you’ll get a burned teapot with total suspended solids (that were able to be removed by a mesh) and the dissolved solids that was not possible to be removed in a ‘regular’ mesh.

Total solids = suspended solids + dissolved solids

The solids above also could be classified according their drying temperature, if we consider dry them at about 105°C we called total solids or total fraction (since we just remove the water). If, later, we take these solids and dry again, now in a furnace ate 550°C we lose organic matter, and the residue is called the ash or mineral fraction. The difference between ash and total weight of the sample is called volatile – and for a sanitary engineer could be related to organic matter or microorganisms in an activated sludge system.

If you do not filtrate the sample, you always will get total solids (suspended + dissolved) and according the drying temperature total fraction or fix. Sometimes for some effluents you can relate centrifuged sample with a filtrated sample, BUT it is an approximation and it is not true always.

Just to conclude I the beginning was mentioned about the tea that is could be done by means a cloth, a mesh or a filter. Usually the official standards specify the opening / or retention of the filter.

Good tea

you can go to the textbook Wastewater Engineering Treatment and Reuse -Metcalf &Eddy Fourth Edition 2003 page 51-52