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Correlation between Electrical Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids in
Natural Waters
Article in Malaysian Journal of Science · April 2009
DOI: 10.22452/mjs.vol28no1.7
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Malaysian Journal of Science 28 (1): 55-61 (2009)
Correlation between Electrical Conductivity and Total Dissolved
Solids in Natural Waters
S. Thirumalini1 and Kurian Joseph2
1
R.M.K. Engineering College, Gummidipoondi
2
Environmental Engineering, Centre for Environmental Studies, Anna University
Received 27th March 2008, accepted in revised form 31th December 2008.
ABSTRACT The study aims at establishing the correlation ratio between Total Dissolved Solids
(TDS )and Electrical Conductivity ( EC ) for natural waters such as fresh water , sea water and tender
coconut .The EC value can be obtained from in situ conductivity measurements since it is quick reliable
and relatively of low cost . Twenty four fresh water , fifteen sea water and twenty eight ( eight from
pollution free area and twenty from textile industrial belt ) tender coconut samples were considered for
the analysis various water quality parameters. In sea water, the result indicates 96 % of the variability in
TDS could be ascertained to the variable EC. The regression equation for sea water is in the form of y =
bx + c where b is the correlation ratio due to ionic species and the intercept c values are assigned to
unionic species. In the case of tender coconut, the correlation ratio was found to be 0.63 for samples taken
from pollution free residential areas where as the ratio found to be varied between 0.59 to 0.93 in textile
industrial belt.
(Electrical Conductivity , Total Dissolved Solids , Sea Water , Fresh Water , Tender Coconut ,
Correlation ratio , coefficient of correlation ( r ) Coefficient of Determination (R2 ).)
INTRODUCTION In general, the TDS – EC relationship is given by
equation 1 [4]
Matter present in the dissolved form consists of
inorganic salts and organic matter which is TDS = (0.55 to 0.7) EC (1)
represented in the form of Total Dissolved Solids
(TDS) .The inorganic TDS is contributed This correlation is approximate because nonionic
predominantly by six major ions such as calcium, species do not contribute to EC and the individual
magnesium, sodium, bicarbonates, chlorides and ionic species have different weights. The actual
sulfates and measured gravimetrically. The multiplier depends on the activity of the specific
organic matter contributing to TDS is determined dissolved ions present and the average activity of
in terms of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) all ions in the sample which are in turn
and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). influenced by the sample temperature, the
relative amount of the each ion and the total
Electrical Conductivity (EC) is a surrogate concentration of dissolved solids in the sample.
measure of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Measuring the TDS of the preliminary samples
Electrical conductivity methods are more gravimetrically and regressing those results
advantageous as the measurement is faster than against the measured specific conductance of the
gravimetric measurement of TDS and will be samples would determine the correlation [5].
highly useful. It is also effective as compared to
the laboratory measurements. [1]
The relationship between TDS and EC is a
function of the type and nature of the dissolved
cations and anions in the water [2]. The
relationship between EC and TDS is not directly
linear, since the conductive mobility of ionic
species is variable. [3]
55
Malaysian Journal of Science 28 (1): 71-77 (2009)
METHODS AND MATERIALS samples , 28 tender coconut samples and 15 sea
This study has been made to establish the water samples were analysed .The samples were
correlation of TDS and EC for natural water as analysed according to APHA standards and it is
well as to evaluate their individual ion listed in Table 1
contribution to TDS. In this study 24 fresh water
Table 1: Instrumental / chemical techniques used for chemical analysis of samples.
S.No Parameters Techniques used
1. EC Conductivity meter with selective electrode and sensor
2. TDS Gravimetric ( evaporation ) method
3. Na , K Flame photometer
4. Ca , Mg EDTA Titrometric method
5. SO4 Spectrophotometer
6. HCO3 Acidimetric neutralization
7. Cl- Mohr titrametric & chloride metric
Simple correlation analysis will be used to assess Thiruninravur , Gummidipoodi, etc . The major
how well the parameters are associated with TDS part of this area is having flat topography with
[8]. Linear regression attempts to model the every gentle slope towards east .The altitude of
relationship between TDS and conductivity by the land surface varies from 10 meters above
fitting a linear equation to the observed data. Mean Sea Level (MSL). In the west to sea level
Conductivity will be considered as an in the east. The area is under lined by various
independent variable, and the TDS is considered geological formations. Quaternary sediments
to be a dependent variable. A linear regression covers most part of the area and the Archacan
line, ( R2 ) has an equation of the form y = bx + c crystalline rocks exposed in the southern part of
where b is slope of the line and c is the intercept. the area (Figure 1). The tertiary shales and clays
are exposed in the north western part.
RESULTS AND DISSCUSSION
Correlation between Electrical Conductivity
(EC) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) for
Fresh Water.
The study area covers the Tiruvallur district
located on the northern border of Tamil Nadu,
India. The major locations are Avadi, Ambattur ,
Manavalanagar, Periyapalayam, Redhills,
56
Malaysian Journal of Science 28 (1): 55-61 (2009)
Figure 1: Geology of the area
Figure 2: Location Map for fresh water samples
57
Malaysian Journal of Science 28 (1): 71-77 (2009)
The twenty four water samples were collected in The TDS – EC relationship [7] as shown in the
a clean one litre polythene bottles from various figure 3 is established and represented in the
sampling wells located in the study area (Fig 2). equation 2
The water samples were analyzed for various TDS = Constant + 0.65 EC ------ Eqn 2
physio chemical parameters such as TDS , EC ,
HCO3,chlorides, sodium , potassium , calcium ,
magnesium , hardness , alkalinity and sulphate as
per APHA standards( 6 ).
Table 2: Linear coefficient of correlation (r) among the various parameters in Fresh water
TDS EC Na K HCO3 Cl SO4 Ca Mg
TDS 1 0.99 0.88 0.66 0.41 0.95 0.82 0.88 0.88
EC 1 0.90 0.72 0.42 0.96 0.79 0.90 0.88
Na 1 0.81 0.23 0.89 0.66 -0.20 0.70
K 1 0.08 0.74 0.47 -0.30 0.60
HCO3 1 0.31 0.14 0.27 0.46
Cl 1 0.73 -0.01 0.87
SO4 1 0.29 0.70
Ca 1 0.05
Mg 1
y = 0.6507x
TDS EC - Fresh water
R2 = 0.9738
3500
3000
TDS in mg / L
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
EC
Figure 3: TDS – EC relation for Fresh Water.
58
Malaysian Journal of Science 28 (1): 55-61 (2009)
The relationship between TDS and EC is a ( R2) is found to be 0. 77 as shown in the figure 4.
function of the type and nature of the dissolved For the direct relationship of TDS = 0.71 EC
cations and anions (5). The inter relation among where as the R2 value is 0.89 for the logarithmic
the ions present in the water is represents in the equation of TDS = 54879Ln ( EC ) -558626 as
Table 2. The ions such as chlorides sodium, shown in the Figure 5. So the same correlation
sulphates, calcium, and magnesium are also more ratio is not suitable for all ranges of TDS values.
correlated with TDS. Of these ions, the
percentage contribution of chlorides is around Though it is present in small quantities, the in
30% and sulphates is 14% and sodium to extent organics such as silica, manganese, iron,
of 20%. aluminum, strontium, boron etc present in the sea
water can occur in unionized state and contribute
Correlation between Electrical Conductivity to TDS. Hence there is no linear relation between
and Total Dissolved Solids for Sea Water. TDS and EC.
In the Sea water, the coefficient of determination
Fig 1 Geology of the area TDS - EC relation
y = 0.7079x
2
38000 R = 0.7762
37000
TDS in mg / L
36000
35000
34000
33000
32000
47000 48000 49000 50000 51000 52000 53000
EC
Figure 4: TDS–EC for different coefficient of determination for sea water
y = 54879Ln(x) - 558626
TDS - EC relation
R2 = 0.8918
38000
37000
TDS in mg / L
36000
35000
34000
33000
32000
47000 48000 49000 50000 51000 52000 53000
EC
Figure 5: The best fit curve for TDS – EC value in Sea water.
59
Malaysian Journal of Science 28 (1): 71-77 (2009)
Correlation between Electrical Conductivity and the conductivity ranges from 7200 µs/cm to
and Total Dissolved Solids for Tender 9200 µs/cm with the correlation ratio between
Coconut . them being 0.63 as shown in the Figure 6. and
Initially eight no. tender coconut samples from the percentage contribution of chlorides is
the pollution free residential zone, in and around around 22 % as mentioned in Table 4 . The
Tiruvallur area were collected and analysed for linear inter correlation matrix among the various
various water quality parameters. The TDS water quality parameters was arrived as shown
values ranges from 4200 mg / L to 6500 mg / L in the Table 3.
Table 3: Linear coefficient of correlation (r) for Tender coconut
TDS EC Hardness Ca Mg Cl SO4 Alkalinity
TDS 1 0.87 0.20 0.05 0.32 0.67 0.34 0.60
EC 1 0.22 -0.02 0.46 0.88 0.24 0.75
Hardness 1 0.95 0.95 0.35 0.17 -0.16
Ca 1 0.81 0.13 0.18 -0.33
Mg 1 0.54 0.13 0.04
Cl 1 0.09 0.64
SO4 1 0.40
Alkalinity 1
y = 0.6322x
T D S - E C C o r r e la tio n
R 2 = 0 .7 6 5 4
7000
6000
5000
TDS in mg/ L
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
EC
Figure 6: TDS – EC ratio for Tender coconut (Pollution Free area)
Later twenty tender coconut samples from the mainly due to the organic content which in turn
textile industrial belt, Tirupur town were depends upon several factors such as the age of
collected and analysed for TDS, EC and other the coconut, soil condition, microorganisms
parameters. The TDS values ranges from 6000 present in the soil which helps in fixing of
mg / L to 9000 mg / L and the conductivity nutrients to the plants and salt resistance of the
ranges between 8100 µs/cm and 11500 µs/cm plants.
with their correlation ratio widely varying form
0.59 to 0.93. This wide variation in the values of
correlation ratio prevails over the individual
samples. The value is below 0.69 for 7 samples,
between 0.75 to 1 for 13 samples. This wide
variation may be due to the fact that the TDS is
60
Malaysian Journal of Science 28 (1): 55-61 (2009)
Table 4: Percentage contribution of individual ions to TDS
Inorganics contributing to
S.No Sea water Fresh water Tender coconut
TDS
1. Chloride 55.55 33 22
2. Sulphate 14 14 ----
3. Sodium 31 20 ----
CONCLUSION REFERENCES
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