Experiment 4: Measurement of Oil and Grease

Introduction
The partition gravimetric method involves extraction of dissolved or emulsified oil
and grease from water by using an extracting solvent. The common solvents used are
n-hexane, methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTB!, and trichlorotrifluoroethane.
"ny filterable solvent-soluble substances (e.g., elemental sulfur, complex aromatic
compounds, hydrocarbon derivatives of chlorine, sulfur, and nitrogen, and certain
organic dyes! that are extracted and recovered are defined as oil and grease. #o
$nown solvent will dissolve selectively only oil and grease. %eavier residuals of
petroleum may contain a significant portion of materials that are not solvent-
extractable.
&il and grease has the natural tendency to float on the water surface under 'uiescent
conditions, as the density of oil and grease is usually less than one. #ot all the oil and
grease is in li'uid or solid form. "ppreciable amounts remain in a finely divided
emulsified form.
&il and grease is an important parameter for water 'uality and safety. (egulatory
bodies worldwide set limits in order to control the amount oil and grease entering the
water reservoirs or the sea through industrial discharges and also limit the amount
present in drin$ing water.
Objective
To determine the dissolved or emulsified oil and grease in $itchen water sample by
using partition gravimetric method.
Apparatus and Materials
)eparatory funnel, distilling flas$, li'uid funnel, filter paper, distillation apparatus,
waste container for used solvent, desiccator, $itchen water sample, hydrochloric acid,
n-hexane, anhydrous sodium sulphate, and distilled water.
Experimental Procedure
*. +,, m- of $itchen water sample was acidified with . m- of %/l, and then
transferred to a separatory funnel.
+. 0, m- of n-hexane solvent was added to the funnel and the mixture was sha$en
vigorously for + min.
0. The upper solvent layer was transferred into a conical flas$.
1. The lower a'ueous layer and any remaining emulsion were extracted with +
portions of 0, m- n-hexane where the solvent layer was transferred to the same
conical flas$ after each washing.
.. "nhydrous sodium sulphate was added to the extract in the conical flas$ to
absorb traces of water.
2. The dried extract was filtered into a tarred distilling flas$ and then distilled at 20
23 4/.
5. The remaining oil and grease in the distilling flas$ was cooled in desiccator and
weighed.
6. The procedures were repeated with deioni7ed water as blan$.
Result and Calculation
*. 8itchen water sample
)tarting temperature 9 +6 4/
Temperature range at which
product was obtained
9 21 2. 4/
:eight of empty distilling flas$ 9 2*.++01 g
:eight of flas$ ; oil and grease 9 2*.3+02 g
:eight of oil and grease 9 ,.5,,+ g
&il and grease 9 5,,.+ mg < (+,,<*,,,!-
9 0.,* mg < -
9 0.,, mg < - (to 0 significant figure!
+. =eioni7ed water (blan$!
)tarting temperature 9 +3 4/
Temperature range at which
product was obtained
9 20 22 4/
:eight of empty distilling flas$ 9 15.0*66 g
:eight of flas$ ; oil and grease 9 15.01,3 g
:eight of oil and grease 9 ,.,++* g
&il and grease 9 ++.* mg < (+,,<*,,,!-
9 **,.. mg < -
9 *** mg < - (to 0 significant figure!
iscussion
The amount of oil and grease extracted from $itchen water sample was 0.,, mg < -
and that extracted from deioni7ed water was *** mg < -. The difference in amount of
oil and grease present in these two samples was 0063 mg < -. This can be attributed to
deioni7ed water being processed whereas the $itchen water was not.
)ince deioni7ed water was being processed before, it should not contain a high level
of oil and grease. The amount of oil and grease we got in blan$ (*** mg < -! was
mainly due to the impurities such as deioni7ed water or unevaporated n-hexane.
The temperature range at which the solvent distilled out was 20 22 4/, which was
nearly the boiling point of n-hexane (23 4/!.
The $itchen water sample was probably ta$en from cafeteria. &il and grease in
$itchen water includes substances such as relatively non-volatile hydrocarbons,
vegetable oils, animal fats, waxes, soaps, and greases. :hen measuring oil and grease
gravimetrically, the substances are extracted from the sample with n-hexane, and then
the n-hexane is evaporated. The residue left is weighed to determine the concentration
of oil and grease materials in mg<-.
)hould there be excessive discharges of oil and grease to sewerage systems, problems
may occur with the clogging of sewers and pumping plants and with the interference
of biological treatment processes.
Therefore, the $itchen water from cafeteria should be processed before discharged as
sewage to remove oil and grease. >f this $itchen water is disposed to the la$e before
processing, it will contaminate the la$e water and affect the la$e ecosystem.
The $nowledge of the 'uantity of oil and grease present in wastewater systems is
helpful in the proper design and operation of wastewater treatment systems. >t is
$nown that in the determination of oil and grease, the absolute 'uantity of substances
with similar physical characteristics is measured 'uantitatively on the basis of their
common solubility in an organic solvent.
Conclusion
The amount of oil and grease extracted from $itchen water sample was 0.,, mg < -
and that extracted from deioni7ed water was *** mg < -. The difference in amount of
oil and grease present in these two samples was 0063 mg < -.
Reference
*. http?<<www.p+pays.org<ref<,+<,*11+.pdf
+. http?<<www.freepatentsonline.com<.+31..0.html
0. http?<<www.srcosmos.gr<srcosmos<showpub.aspx@aa9256*
1. http?<<www.caslab.com<Test-Method-..+,-B<
.. http?<<www.astm.org<="T"B")./"(T<:>T%=(":#<A)51.htm