Total suspended solids (TSS) is an analysis method that requires filter, wet weighing, drying in an oven for a few hours, then dry weighing. This is typically not performed by treatment plants and even for labs it is time consuming.
Turbidity is a surrogate measure for TSS that allows rapid automated analysis of batches of samples. A log-linear model shows strong positive correlation between TSS and turbidity (R2=0.9374) with a regression equation of [ln (TSS)=0.979 ln (Turb.) +0.574]. This model can be applied directly to turbidity analysis results to determine the TSS. MANTECH offers the MT30 analyzer for quick and easy “hands off” TSS analysis, only requiring 40mL of sample volume in batches up to hundreds of samples.
An example scatterplot showing a Turbidity:TSS correlation is provided below:
Great article!
Hi… I wonder if that correlation is true for any kind or matrix, say, sand, clay. organics..etc since NTU has to do with how much suspended material allows or not the patrh of light..since clay, sand and organic are different molecules…my doubt is if 400 NTU of sand will correlate with TSS the same with 400 NTU of clay and so..
agreed. In fact, some of my lab experiments would verify that. Turbidity is essentially the brightness of the sample with its ability to refract light. That is not necessarily directly related to the molecular size or the amount of suspended solids mass. But, the correlation is still important if it is clarified at the type of matrix, such as municipal wastewater, soil runoff, or natural waters.