Assessment correlation of total suspended solids (TSS) based on dried and sensor method

Abstract

In order to maintain water quality standard due to mining activity, a very strict control is required on the water coming out into environment. In the field, water quality is assessed by using a portable Total Suspended Solids (TSS) measuring device that results are usually different from laboratory test results. Laboratory test produces accurate TSS values, but requires considerable time. Based on these conditions, it is necessary to study the comprehensive correlation between TSS results measured in the field by using portable device and the results by laboratory test. This study was conducted to determine correction of TSS measurement in the field by correlating it to the measurement in the laboratory. The same samples were used for both measurement methods and measured in unit of mg/l. Correction of TSS measurement using portable device was obtained by building a model of the relationship between TSS by device with TSS by laboratory test. Regression method was applied to obtain the calibration model. There were two portable devices using in this study, namely Partech 740 and DR900, so two models were built. Candidates for the models were constructed based on the grouping of relative error data resulted by each device. The models with the smallest mean absolute error (MAE) were selected as relatively fair model, which were TSSLab = 0.0435 TSSPartech 740 + 66.86 for Partech 740 and TSSLab = 0.6116 TSSDR900 + 85.46 for DR900, with MAE value of 30.38 and 30.92 respectively.