Environmental Engineering 

Laboratory Manual 
 
Prepared by 
Dr. PRAVEEN B. 
Assistant Professor and Environmental Engineering Lab. In‐Charge 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Department of Civil Engineering 
Amity School of Engineering and Technology 
Amity University Haryana 
LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

1. DETERMINATION OF PH AND TURBIDITY

2. DETERMINATION OF CONDUCTIVITY AND TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS.

3. DETERMINATION OF ALKALINITY/ACIDITY.

4. DETERMINATION OF CHLORIDES.

5. DETERMINATION AND ESTIMATION OF TOTAL SOLIDS, ORGANIC SOLIDS

AND INORGANIC SOLIDS.

6. DETERMINATION OF IRON.

7. DETERMINATION OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN.

8. DETERMINATION OF NITROGEN.

9. DETERMINATION OF TOTAL PHOSPHOROUS.

10.DETERMINATION OF B.O.D

11.DETERMINATION OF C.O.D

12.DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM COAGULANT DOSE.

13.DETERMINATION OF CHLORINE DEMAND.

14.PRESUMPTIVE COLIFORM TEST.

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 EXPERIMENT – 1
DETERMINATION OF pH

1.1 OBJECTIVE:
To determine the PH of the given water sample

1.2 INTRODUCTION:
The term pH refers to the measure of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution and
defined as the negative log of H+ ions concentration in water and wastewater. The values
of pH 0 to a little less than 7 are termed as acidic and the values of pH a little above 7 to
14 are termed as basic. When the concentration of H+ and OH– ions are equal then it is
termed as neutral pH.

1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Determination of pH is one of the important objectives in biological treatment of the
wastewater. In anaerobic treatment, if the pH goes below 5 due to excess accumulation of
acids, the process is severely affected. Shifting of pH beyond 5 to 10 upsets the aerobic
treatment of the wastewater. In these circumstances, the pH is generally adjusted by
addition of suitable acid or alkali to optimize the treatment of the wastewater. pH value or
range is of immense importance for any chemical reaction. A chemical shall be highly
effective at a particular pH. Chemical coagulation, disinfection, water softening and
corrosion control are governed by pH adjustment.
Dewatering of sludge, oxidation of cyanides and reduction of hexavalent chromium
into trivalent chromium also need a favorable pH range. It is used in the calculation of
carbonate, bicarbonate, CO2 corrosion, stability index and acid base equilibrium. Lower
value of pH below 4 will produce sour taste and higher value above 8.5 a bitter taste.
Higher values of pH hasten the scale formation in water heating apparatus and also reduce
the germicidal potential of chlorine. High pH induces the formation of tri halo methane, this
is causing cancer in human beings.

1.4 PRINCIPLE:
The pH electrode used in the pH measurement is a combined glass electrode. It
consists of sensing half cell and reference half cell, together form an electrode system. The
sensing half cell is a thin pH sensitive semi permeable membrane, separating two solutions,
viz., the outer solution, the sample to be analyzed and the internal solution, enclosed inside
the glass membrane and has a known pH value. An electrical potential is developed inside
and another electrical potential is developed outside, the difference in the potential is
measured and is given as the pH of the sample.

1.5 MATERIALS REQUIRED

APPARATUS REQUIRED
i. pH meter v. Beaker
ii. Standard flasks vi. Wash Bottle
iii. Magnetic Stirrer vii.Tissue Paper
iv. Funnel viii. Forceps

CHEMICALS REQUIRED
i. Buffers Solutions of pH 4.01, iii. Distilled Water
7.0 and 9.2
ii. Potassium Chloride

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1.6 SAMPLE HANDLING AND PRESERVATION
Preservation of sample is not practical. Because biological activity will continue after
a sample has been taken, changes may occur during handling and storage. The
characteristics of the water sample may change. To reduce the change in samples taken for
the determination of pH, keep samples at 40 C. Do not allow the samples to freeze. Analysis
should begin as soon as possible.

PRECAUTIONS
The following precautions should be observed while performing the experiment:
i. Temperature affects the measurement of pH at two points. The first is caused by the
change in electrode output at different temperatures. This interference can be
controlled by the instruments having temperature compensation or by calibrating
the electrode-instrument system at the temperature of the samples. The second is
the change of pH inherent in the sample at different temperatures. This type of
error is sample dependent and cannot be controlled; hence both the pH and
temperature at the time of analysis should be noted.
ii. In general, the glass electrode is not subject to solution interferences like color, high
salinity, colloidal matter, oxidants, turbidity or reductant.
iii. Oil and grease, if present in the electrode layer, should be removed by gentle
wiping or detergent washing, followed by rinsing with distilled water, because it
could impair the electrode response.
iv. Before using, allow the electrode to stand in dilute hydrochloric acid solution for at
least 2 hours.
v. Electrodes used in the pH meter are highly fragile, hence handle it carefully.

1.7 PROCEDURE:
Three major steps are involved in the experiment. They are
1. Preparation of Reagents
2. Calibrating the Instrument
3. Testing of Sample

PREPARATION OF REAGENTS:
1. Buffer Solution of pH 4.0
• Take 100 mL standard measuring flask and place a funnel over it.
• Using the forceps carefully transfer one buffer tablet of pH 4.0 to the funnel.
• Add little amount of distilled water, crush the tablet and dissolved it.
• Make up the volume to 100 mL using distilled water.
2. Buffer Solution of pH 7.0
• Take 100 mL standard measuring flask and place a funnel over it.
• Using the forceps carefully transfer one buffer tablet of pH 7.0 to the funnel.
• Add little amount of distilled water, crush the tablet and dissolved it.
• Make up the volume to 100 mL using distilled water.
3. Buffer Solution of pH 9.2
• Take 100 mL standard measuring flask and place a funnel over it.
• Using the forceps carefully transfer one Buffer tablet of pH 9.2 to the funnel.
• Add little amount of distilled water, crush the tablet and dissolved it.
Make up the volume to 100 mL using distilled water.

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5
CALIBRATING THE INSTRUMENT:
Using the buffer solutions calibrate the instrument.
Step 1
In a 100 mL beaker take pH 9.2 buffer solution and place it in a magnetic stirrer,
insert the Teflon coated stirring bar and stir well. Now place the electrode in the beaker
containing the stirred buffer and check for the reading in the pH meter. If the instrument is
not showing pH value of 9.2, using the calibration knob adjust the reading to 9.2. Take the
electrode from the buffer, wash it with distilled water and then wipe gently with soft tissue.
Step 2
In a 100 mL beaker take pH 7.0 buffer solution and place it in a magnetic stirrer,
insert the Teflon coated stirring bar and stir well. Now place the electrode in the beaker
containing the stirred buffer and check for the reading in the pH meter. If the instrument is
not showing pH value of 7.0, using the calibration knob adjust the reading to 7.0. Take the
electrode from the buffer, wash it with distilled water and then wipe gently with soft tissue.
Step 3
In a 100 mL beaker take pH 4.0 buffer solution and place it in a magnetic stirrer, insert the
Teflon coated stirring bar and stir well. Now place the electrode in the beaker containing the
stirred buffer and check for the reading in the pH meter. If the instrument is not showing pH
value of 4.0, using the calibration knob adjust the reading to 4.0. Take the electrode from
the buffer, wash it with distilled water and then wipe gently with soft tissue.
Now the instrument is calibrated.

1.8 TESTING OF SAMPLE:

• In a clean dry 100 mL beaker take the water sample and place it in a magnetic
stirrer, insert the Teflon coated stirring bar and stir well.
• Now place the electrode in the beaker containing the water sample and check
for the reading in the pH meter. Wait until you get a stable reading.
• The pH of the given water sample is 8.84
Take the electrode from the water sample, wash it with distilled water and then wipe
gently with soft tissue.

1.9 CALCULATION:
To determine the value of pH of the given water sample the readings obtained are
required to be tabulated

TABLE

Sample No Temperature of Sample (ºC) pH

1.

2.

3.

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1.10 RESULT:

1. For sample 1 the temperature of the measurement is 27° C and as obtained the
value of the pH is ___________
2. For sample 2 the temperature of the measurement is 27° C and as obtained the
value of the pH is ___________
3. For sample 3 the temperature of the measurement is 27° C and as obtained the
value of the pH is ___________

1.11 INFERENCE:
pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in water. Values lower than 7
indicate acidity and values higher than 7 indicate alkalinity. Drinking water with a pH
between 6.5 and 8.5 is generally considered satisfactory. Acidic waters tend to be corrosive
to plumbing and faucets, particularly if the pH is below 6. Alkaline waters are less corrosive.
Waters with a pH above 8.5 may tend to have a bitter taste.
The pH of the water samples are well within the limit of the drinking water standards. The
pH of the ground water is slightly towards the alkaline side because of some soil and rocks
chemicals might have dissolved in it. In case of the pH of the fresh water, aquatic plants
uses up hydrogen molecules for photosynthesis, which causes the concentration of
hydrogen ions to decrease and therefore the pH is towards the alkaline side. The sea water
is mostly alkaline in nature because of the presence of different type of salts.

1.12 VIVA QUESTIONS

1. pH is defined as .
a) Logarithm of Hydrogen ions concentration
b) Negative logarithm of Hydrogen ions concentration
c) Hydrogen ion concentration
d) OH ion concentration
2. pH of neutral water is .
a) less than 7
b) more than 7
c) 7.0
d) 0.0
3. The acceptable value of pH of potable water is .
a) 7.0 to 8.5
b) 6.5 to 9.5
c) 6 to 8.5
d)6.5 to 10
4. The inner solution present in the glass electrode of pH meter is .
a) HCl
b) KCl
c) NaCl
d) MgCL
5. The buffer solution can be stored for a minimum period at room temperature.
a) True
b) False

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 6. A possible reason for a relatively low pH value in a river water sample is due to
a) Organic material decomposition to form acidic substances
b) Running long distances
c) Presence of fishes
d) Presence of aquatic plants
7. Possible reasons for a relatively high pH value in a river water sample is due to
a) Running over clay
b) Running long distances
c) Running of fishes
d) Presence of aquatic plants
8. A weak acid is one that ionizes incompletely in aqueous solution.
a) True
b) False
9. A strong base is one that ionizes incompletely in aqueous solution.
a) True
b) False
10. The measurement of pH made by determining the e.m.f of the .
a) cell constant
b) solution
c) electrode cell
d) calomel electrode

KEY TO ITEMS:

1) b
2) c
3) a
4) b
5) False
6) a
7) d
8) True
9) False
10) c

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