What is the Difference Between Total Solids and Total Suspended Solids?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between total solids and total suspended solids lies in the size of the particles and their ability to pass through a filter. Total solids refer to the total amount of particulate matter in water, while total suspended solids are the portion of total solids that are large enough to be held back by a filter.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) include:
- Particles that are large enough to be held back by a filter, such as silt, clay, algae, and other organic matter.
- TSS values are often related to the turbidity (cloudiness) of water, which can affect the growth of plants and algae, as well as the ability of sunlight to penetrate the water.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), which are part of total solids, include:
- Particles that pass through a filter, such as dissolved minerals, salts, and other substances.
- TDS is often closely related to conductivity, salinity, alkalinity, and hardness measures, and can affect the ability of freshwater fish and aquatic organisms to tolerate the water conditions.
In summary, total solids encompass both total suspended solids and total dissolved solids, with the main difference being the size of the particles and their ability to pass through a filter. Total suspended solids are larger particles that can be held back by a filter, while total dissolved solids are smaller particles that can pass through a filter.
Comparative Table: Total Solids vs Total Suspended Solids
The difference between total solids and total suspended solids lies in the particles that make up these two types of solids. Both total solids (TS) and total suspended solids (TSS) measure the amount of particulate matter floating in water, but they can be divided into two categories based on their behavior when passed through a filter. Here is a table summarizing the differences between total solids and total suspended solids:
| Parameter | Total Solids (TS) | Total Suspended Solids (TSS) |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Total solids refer to the material residue left in a vessel after evaporation and drying. | Total suspended solids (TSS) are the dry weight of undissolved particles that remain suspended in water and can pass through a filter. |
| Components | Total solids include dissolved solids and suspended solids. Dissolved solids consist of substances like calcium, chlorides, and nitrates. | TSS consists of particles from algae, other organic matter, silt, clay, and other inorganic substances like minerals, salts, and metals. |
| Turbidity | Not related to turbidity. | Often related to turbidity (cloudiness) of water. High TSS values can lead to reduced sunlight penetration, affecting plant and algae growth, and clogging fish gills. |
| Measurement Method | TS is measured by evaporation and drying. | TSS is measured using a filter to separate particles from the water sample and then determining the dry weight of the filtered particles. |
| Pollutant Status | Total solids are not considered pollutants. | Suspended solids are considered pollutants as they can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. |
In summary, total solids include both dissolved and suspended particles, while total suspended solids specifically refer to the undissolved particles suspended in water that can pass through a filter.
- Sol Solution vs Suspension
- Solution vs Suspension
- Liquid vs Solid
- Suspension vs Colloid
- Sludge vs Slurry
- Soluble vs Insoluble
- Solution Suspension vs Emulsion
- Emulsion vs Suspension
- Solubility vs Dissolution
- Soluble vs Insoluble Salts
- Miscible vs Soluble
- Crystalline vs Noncrystalline Solids
- Liquid vs Solution
- Solvent vs Solute
- Solid Media vs Semi Solid Media
- Silt vs Clay
- Supernatant vs Precipitate
- Solid vs Liquid Media
- TDS vs Salinity