What Are Total Solids?

Definition

Total Solids (TS) include both suspended and dissolved solids in a sample. It refers to the material left after evaporating all water from a sample.

Why It’s Important

• Wastewater: Helps monitor sludge quality.
• Agriculture: Useful in compost and manure analysis.
• Food: Maintains product consistency and safety.

Formula

Total Solids (%) = (Dry Weight / Wet Weight) × 100

What Is Moisture Content?

Definition

Moisture content is the amount of water in a sample. It is important for product shelf life, soil health, and construction material safety.

Moisture Formula

Moisture (%) = 100 - Total Solids (%)

Common Uses

• Food: Prevent spoilage.
• Soil: Manage irrigation.
• Construction: Prevent material failure.

Organic vs. Inorganic Solids

Organic Solids

• Come from living matter.
• Biodegradable.
• Important for composting and biological wastewater treatment.

Inorganic Solids

• Mineral-based (e.g., sand, salts).
• Non-biodegradable.
• Affect filtration and settling in water treatment.

Loss on Ignition (LOI) Method

How It Works

• Dry the sample at 105°C.
• Burn it at 550°C.
• The lost weight is organic content.
• The residue is inorganic.

Organic Formula

Organic (%) = ((Dry weight - Ash weight) / Dry weight) × 100

How the Calculator Works

Inputs

• Wet weight
• Dry weight
• Ash weight

Outputs

• Total Solids (%)
• Moisture (%)
• Organic Content (%)
• Inorganic Content (%)

Example

Results:

• TS = 40%
• Moisture = 60%
• Organic = 75%
• Inorganic = 25%