RAW WATER ANALYSIS

Raw Water Analysis gives details about quantity of various impurities present in the water. The quantities are normally given in terms of Parts Per Million (PPM). One part part million or one PPM means. I gram of the impurity in 1 Tonne or 1 M3 of water. One ppm also means 3 mg in one litre of water. Substances are expressed as PPM as such or PPM as CaCO3. 1 PPM Ca as Ca means 1 m3 of water contains 1 gm of calcium. 1 PPM mg as Mg means 1 m3 of water contains 1 of magnesium. Since the equivalent wts. of calcium and Magnesium are different, 1 gm of Calcium will react with different quantity of HCl compared to 1 gm of Magnesium. Thus if quantity of the substances present in water are expressed as such (i.e. as per their natural weights) then separate calculations would have to be done for each element taking in account their eq. wts. etc., and the calculations will become cum so. Hence to simplify the calculation ac substances are expressed in terms of PPM as CaCO3. CaCO3 has a molecular wt of 100 and equivalent wt of 50, hence conversion to CaCO3 becomes quite easy. The situation is somewhat analogous to a person who has the money available with him in 4-5 different currencies. If he goes to market to buy commodities whose prices are quoted in some other 4-5 different currencies he will have a very difficult time. It would be much simpler for him if he converts all his money in one currency and the prices are also quoted in the same currency. In water treatment calculation, we are following the same logical. We expressed everything as PPM CaCO3. Following conversion table for common ionic species may be used : To convert (PPM) of To PPM of CaCO3 divided by C ++ Mg ++ N+ K+ NH4 + Cl NH4 -HCO3 SiO2 NO3 0.4 0.24 0.46 0.78 0.36 0.71 0.96 1.22 1.2 1.20

Suppose you are given a typical raw water analysis which reads as under : Calcium Magnesium Sodium M alkalinity Total Hardness Chlorides Sulphates SiO2 60 ppm Ca 12 ppm Mg 46 ppm Na 75 ppm as CaCO3 200 ppm as CaCO3 71 ppm as CaCO3 24 20 ppm as SiO2

First thing you must do is to convert everything to ppm as CaCO3. The analysis will now read as under : C ++ Mg ++ Na ++ M alk Total Hardness Cl SO4 SiO2
Following points may be noted. I.
2.

150 ppm as CaCO3 50 ppm as CaCO3 100 ppm as CaCO3 175 ppm as CaCO3 200 ppm as CaCO3 100 ppm as CaCO3 25 ppm as CaCO3 16.6 ppm as CaCO3

(60 0.4) (12 0.24) (46 46) --(7l 0.71) ( 24 0.96 ) (20 0.93)

3. 4.

5.

6.

Total hardness is sum of Calcium and Magnesium ions i.e. 150+50 = 200 ppm. Total alkalinity or M alkalinity is given as 175 ppm CaCO3. Hence out of the 200 ppm total hardness, 175 ppm hardness is associated with alkalinity. This 175 ppm hardness is known as temporary hardness. The difference between total hardness and temporary hardness is permanent hardness. In case the bicarbonate alkalinity or M alkalinity exceeds the total hardness, then the entire hardness is temporary hardness and there is no permanent hardness. The sum of all the strong acid anions like Cl- SO4--, NO3- etc. is known as equivalent mineral acidity or EMA. Sum of all the cations and sum of all the anions is equal. In the above example sum of all the Cations is [Ca( 150) + Mg(50) + Na (100) 1 = 300 ppm.

Sum of all the anions [HCO3 (175) + Cl (100) + SO4 (25)] = 300 ppm. Sum of all the cations and anions as CaCO3 must be equal for natural waters.

Other terms in Ion exchange

1. Ionic Load : Quantity of ions, expressed as ppm CaCO3, taken up by the resin. 2. Regeneration Level : Quantity of regenerant in grams / litre of resin Expressed as 100% acid or 100% alkali used per litre of resin. 3. Resin Capacity Quantity of ions, expressed as gms CaCO3, taken up by one litre of resin. 4. Output Between Regeneration (OBR) : Quantity of water treated by the unit between 2 regenerations expressed in m3. Resin Qty in liters = Ionic load (ppm CaCO3) X OBR (M3) -----------------------------------------------------Resin Capacity (gins CaCO3/Litre resin)

As defined above Ionic Load means quantity of ions taken up by the resin of that particular unit. .pa. Thus even if same water is passed through a cation exchanger and a softener the ionic load on them will be different. Since the softener will take up only the hardness, Ionic load on softener shall be equal to the total hardness i.e sum of Ca and Mg. ions. In case of cation exchanger since the unit will take up all the cations, the ionic load will be sum of Ca, Mg and Na ions.

For following water analysis, the ionic loads on different units shall be as given in the table. Ca ++ Mg ++ Na + 80 50 120 250 HCO3 Cl SO4 SiO2 150 80 20 10 = = = = = = 80 + 50 = 130 ppm 80+ 50+120 = 250 ppm 80 + 50 = 100 ppm 150+80+20+10 = 260 ppm
6 ppm Co2 + Cl + SO4 + SiO2
6+80+20+10

Softener SAC WBA SBA (without

Degasser & WBA

Sum of Ca++ and Mg ++ Sum of all cations Sum of Cl and SO4

Sum of Hco3 + Cl--+SO4- + SiO2 6 ppm CO2 + Cl--+SO4- + SiO2

SBA (with
Degasser without WBA)

= =

116 ppm 18 ppm

SBA (with
Degasser with WBA)

6 ppm CO2 + 2 (Cl) + SiO2

6 ppm Co2 + 2 (Cl) + SiO2

6+20+10