Glass-Fiber Vacuum Filtration Assembly
Pyrex 47 mm magnetic funnel, fritted glass support base, and 1.0 L vacuum filtering flask.
Civil Engineering / TSS Gravimetric Filtration
FREE TO EXPLORELABORATORY 35 · CIVIL ENGINEERING
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) & Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) by Gravimetric Filtration
Determine total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) in environmental water and wastewater samples using standard glass-fiber filtration and 105°C/550°C gravimetric analysis (EPA Method 160.2 / Standard Methods 2540 D/E). Explore interactive structural mechanics, materials simulation, and civil engineering telemetry.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS · MECHANICS · GEOTECHNICAL · HYDRAULICS · HIGHWAYS · SURVEYING
Your virtual civil engineering laboratory.
RETAINED DRY SOLIDS MASS—
CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE TELEMETRY
Ready to sample with Volume Fraction V = 0.3 fraction.
Adjust Volume Fraction V, then execute civil engineering measurement.
Civil engineering telemetry is evaluated rigorously using 64-bit IEEE 754 precision. Residuals reflect ordinary least-squares regression across successive observations. Continuous data structures support high-fidelity structural mechanics and geotechnical continuum modeling.
Civil engineering assumptions and boundary condition limits
The civil engineering physical models apply within the specified calibrated operational window (0.1 to 0.6 fraction). Evaluated on municipal wastewater influent. Linear regression correlates retained dry solids mass directly to filtered volume fraction with slope 185.0000 mg/L.
Laboratory apparatus & testing equipment.
Standard Whatman 934-AH Glass-Fiber Filter Discs
Binderless borosilicate glass-fiber filters (47 mm diameter, nominal 1.5 µm particle retention).
Electric Thermostatic Forced-Air Drying Oven
Maintains 103 to 105 °C for evaporating free and bound water from filter residues.
Electric High-Temperature Muffle Furnace
Maintains 550 ± 50 °C for combusting organic matter to determine Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS).
High-Precision Semi-Micro Analytical Balance
Measures filter tare and dried residue mass to 0.0001 g (0.1 mg) resolution.
Laboratory Desiccator with Moisture Indicating Silica Gel
Cools hot filters to room temperature in moisture-free atmosphere preventing air moisture absorption.
FOLLOW THE METHOD
A reason behind every step.
Determine total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) in environmental water and wastewater samples using standard glass-fiber filtration and 105°C/550°C gravimetric analysis (EPA Method 160.2 / Standard Methods 2540 D/E). Standardized parameter settings: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 fraction.
01
Filter Disc Preparation & Pre-Weighing
Wash Whatman 934-AH filter discs with three 20 mL portions of deionized water under vacuum; dry in oven at 105 °C for 1 hour; ignite at 550 °C; cool in desiccator; weigh tare mass M_tare to 0.1 mg.
02
Sample Homogenization & Aliquot Measuring
Vigorously shake municipal wastewater sample container to ensure complete particulate suspension; immediately measure target volume fraction V (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6 L).
03
Vacuum Filtration Execution
Position pre-weighed filter on fritted glass support; apply gentle vacuum; pour sample volume through funnel; rinse graduate cylinder with deionized water into funnel.
04
Filter Washing to Dissolve Salts
Wash filter and retained residue with three successive 10 mL portions of deionized water, allowing complete drainage between washes to remove dissolved minerals.
05
Oven Drying & Constant Weight Equilibrium
Carefully transfer moist filter to aluminum weighing dish; dry in oven at 103–105 °C for 1 hour; cool in desiccator for 30 minutes; weigh mass M_dried; repeat until mass difference < 0.5 mg.
06
TSS Calculation & Muffle Furnace Combustion
Calculate TSS = (M_dried - M_tare) / V; transfer filter to muffle furnace at 550 °C for 20 minutes; cool in desiccator; weigh M_ignited to determine VSS.
YOUR NOTEBOOK · 0 OBSERVATIONS
Turn measurements into civil engineering insight.
Points are your recorded observations. The solid regression line validates TSS Gravimetric Filtration mathematical scaling.
LINEAR REGRESSION FIT · y = mx + b
Mass = 185.0000 · Volume
| # | Filtered Wastewater Volume Fraction V (fraction) | Retained Dry Solids Mass (mg) | Filtered sample volume fraction V (aliquot / 1.0 L) | Retained dry solids mass on filter (mg) | Remove |
|---|
No readings yet. Execute a civil engineering trial and record it.
Calculate it yourself.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Explain what the civil engineering metrics mean.
The standard glass-fiber filter disc used for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) determination has a nominal pore rating of:
To determine Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS), the dried filter residue is combusted in a muffle furnace at:
If a filter with retained residue is weighed while still hot from the 105 °C oven, the balance reading will be:
Washing the filter cake with deionized water prior to drying is necessary to:
THEORY AND STRUCTURAL CONTEXT
Civil engineering background & physical principles.
In civil environmental water quality monitoring, municipal wastewater discharge compliance, and primary sedimentation basin design, solids suspended in the water column represent a primary physical pollutant. Particulate matter impairs aquatic light penetration, deposits sludge blankets on riverbeds, blankets fish spawning gravels, and carries hydrophobic heavy metals and organic pesticides. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is quantified gravimetrically according to EPA Method 160.2 / Standard Methods 2540 D. A thoroughly mixed, unpreserved water sample of volume V is drawn through a pre-weighed, pre-combusted glass-fiber filter disc (Whatman 934-AH or equivalent, nominal pore rating 1.5 µm) supported on a vacuum filtration apparatus. The filter and captured particulate residue are washed with deionized water to remove dissolved mineral salts, dried in a thermostatic laboratory oven at 103 to 105 °C for at least 1 hour, cooled to room temperature in a desiccator, and weighed on an analytical balance to 0.1 mg precision until constant mass is achieved. Total Suspended Solids is calculated as TSS (mg/L) = (M_dried - M_tare) / V. Subsequent ignition of the dried residue in a muffle furnace at 550 ± 50 °C volatilizes the organic particulate fraction, leaving mineral ash to determine Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) and Fixed Suspended Solids (FSS). In this laboratory investigation, sample volume fractions from 0.1 to 0.6 L are filtered to establish gravimetric linearity and determine wastewater TSS = 185.0 mg/L.
Mass = 185.0000 · Volume
Evaluated on municipal wastewater influent. Linear regression correlates retained dry solids mass directly to filtered volume fraction with slope 185.0000 mg/L.