USGS-NWQL: I-3765: Solids, residue at 105 degrees C, suspended, gravimetric

Summary
Analytes
Revision
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

Solids, residue at 105 degrees C, suspended, gravimetric

Current Revision

1989

Media

WATER

Instrumentation

Gravimetry

Method Subcategory

Inorganic

Method Source

USGS-NWQL

Citation

Methods for the Determination of Inorganic Substances in Water and Fluvial Sediments, Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey, Book 5, Chapter A1 Edited by Marvin J. Fishman and Linda C. Friedman

Brief Method Summary

Suspended solids are those that are retained on a glass-fiber filter. The determined value is fairly representative of the sample but does not accurately represent the suspended sediment concentration of a stream; suspended solids values should not be confused with sediment concentration, which is the more accurate measure of material in suspension. The unfiltered sample is mixed thoroughly and an appropriate volume is rapidly poured into a graduated cylinder. The suspended solids are collected on a glass fiber filter, and the insoluble residue is dried and weighed.

DISCLAIMER: The USGS, in collaboration with the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project (FISP), articulated in FISP Technical Memorandum 2007-01 (https://water.usgs.gov/fisp/docs/FISP_Tech_Memo_2007-01.pdf) a scientific basis for considering this method unreliable for determining suspended sediment in environmental waters and to give preference to suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) methods, such as ASTM D 3977. Additional information about the comparability of total suspended solids (TSS) and SSC is provided in USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4191 at https://water.usgs.gov/osw/pubs/WRIR00-4191.pdf.

Scope and Application

This method may be used to determine the suspended-solids concentration of any natural or treated water or industrial waste.

Applicable Concentration Range

Interferences

Precipitation in the sample during storage, such as iron, will produce erroneously high results.

Quality Control Requirements

Laboratory Blanks (LB)

Sample Handling

Container Description: 250 or 500 mL polyethylene bottle.
Handling and Treatment: Use unfiltered sample to rinse bottle.

Maximum Holding Time

Relative Cost

Less than $50

Sample Preparation Methods

This method has 1 analyte associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Pct False Positive	Pct False Negative	Spiking Level
Total Suspended Solids(E-10162) Residue, Non-filterable TSS Total Suspended Solids	1.000 mg/L	N/A	N/A

Precision Descriptor Notes:	Precision data are not available for this method.
Detection Level Note:	Reporting Level defined as smallest measured concentration of a constituent that may be reliably reported using a given analytical method.

Revision	PDF/Link
1989

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USGS-NWQL: I-3765: Solids, residue at 105 degrees C, suspended, gravimetric

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