Experiment 5: Water Purification and Dissolved Oxygen Determination
REPORT SHEET
Experiment 5
Water Purification and Dissolved Oxygen Determination
RESULTS AND INTERPRETATIONS
A. Water Purification Techniques
Table 5.1. Observations of the dirty water at different water purification methods.
Water Purification Methods Observations
Aeration There is no change in color of the dirty water.
Coagulation The dirt in the water coagulated.
The coagulated dirt (flocs) settled at the bottom of the
Sedimentation
container.
Filtration The resulting water is clearer.
Classify the different water purification methods used in Table 5.1. under physical, chemical
or biological treatment.
Water Purification Methods Classification
Aeration biological treatment
Coagulation chemical treatment
Sedimentation physical treatment
Filtration physical treatment
Enumerate the different types of water pollutants that can be removed by the different water
purification methods.
Water Purification Methods Water Pollutants Eliminated
CHM031L. Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory Page 5-1
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Experiment 5: Water Purification and Dissolved Oxygen Determination
Dissolved gasses (e.g. carbon dioxide) and oxidized
Aeration
dissolved metals (e.g. iron and hydrogen sulfide)
Dirt, dissolved organic matter, pathogens, and other
Coagulation
suspended particles
Small particulate suspended matter (e.g. sand, silt, and
Sedimentation
clay) and some biological contaminants
Filtration Suspended solid particles
Disinfection Bacteria and other harmful microorganisms
B. Dissolved Oxygen Measurements
Explain the relationship between the amounts of organic pollutants and the concentration of
the dissolved oxygen in water.
Organic pollutants are pollutants that have toxic properties and tend to fight
degradation. When the amount of organic pollutants present in water is low, the
concentration of dissolved oxygen in water is also low due to the fact that the bacteria
present in the water only gets to digest a small amount of organic matter/pollutants thus
releasing only a minimal amount of dissolved oxygen into the water. However, when the
amount of organic pollutants are high, the amount of dissolved oxygen in water also
increases.
Give at least three factors that affect the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water? Briefly
explain each factor.
CHM031L. Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory Page 5-2
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Experiment 5: Water Purification and Dissolved Oxygen Determination
The first factor that affects the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water is water
temperature due to the fact that low water temperature tends to hold more dissolved
oxygen compared to high water temperature. Low water temperature means cold water,
and since the water is cold, the oxygen tends to remain in the water than when it is at a high
temperature. The second factor is the water quality. Water that is constantly moving, e.g.
streams and rivers, tends to contain more concentration of dissolved oxygen compared to
stagnant water. This is due to the fact that moving water makes it hard for the bacteria that
is in the water to consume the oxygen as the organic matter/s in the water decays due to its
continuous movement, while for stagnant water, the bacteria can easily consume oxygen
due to the less to no movement of the water thus resulting to oxygen deficiency of the
water. Lastly, the third factor is the organic contents of the water. When the amount of
organic contents of the water are high, the bacteria present in the water tends to digest
more organic content that results in the release of more dissolved oxygen in the water.
Dissolved oxygen and organic matter POLUTION sources: My Blog. (2013, April 14). Retrieved October 10, 2021,
from https://gtms1319.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/dissolved-oxygen-and-organic-matter-polution-sources/
Dissolved oxygen and water. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-
science-school/science/dissolved-oxygen-and-water?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-
science_center_objects.
Documentation of the Experiment
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Experiment 5: Water Purification and Dissolved Oxygen Determination
Dirty water before purification
After aeration After coagulation
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Experiment 5: Water Purification and Dissolved Oxygen Determination
After sedimentation After filtration
Original vs. Filtered
CHM031L. Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory Page 5-5
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