CEN-105: Introduction to Environmental Studies

Practice Questions (Module 3 & 4)

1. Ammonical nitrogen in wastewaters is a measure of NH3-N and NH4+- N. Ammonia from
wastewaters can be removed by air stripping. How does pH affect ammonia stripping? (KB
= 1.8 x 10-5 for NH3 = NH4+ + OH-). What is pH for effective removal (i.e. 90 %) of
ammonia?
2. H2S an odorous gas can also be removed from water and wastewater by air stripping. How
does pH control this process? KaH2S = 8.6 x 10-7
3. A sample of groundwater collected in the field had a pH of 6.8. By the time the water
sample reached the laboratory for analysis, the pH had increased to 7.5. Explain.
4.

Turbulent Mandakini river (100C) at Kedarnath (3300 m above the sea level) is well
equilibrated with air. What would be the dissolved oxygen (DO) and aq CO2 as H2CO3 in
mg/L? Water samples were brought to the Environmental Engineering Laboratory of the
Department of Civil Engineering, IITR. After a gap of 2 days samples were again analyzed
for DO & CO2. The water temperature increased to 250C. Would you expect a change in
DO and CO2? If yes, (i) what would be the change & (ii) factors which would influence the
change? The atmospheric pressure changes from 1 to 0.9 atm. CO2 = 350 ppm.
Temp. (0C)

KHO2 (mM/atm)

KHCO2 (mM/atm)

25

1.3

34

10

1.6

52

5. Estimate pH of the following solutions that have been equilibrated with the atmosphere
(pCO2 = 10-3.5 atm) (a) 10-3 M KOH, (b) 10-3 M NaHCO3, (c) 5 x 10-4 M Na2CO3, (d) 5 x 10-4
M MgO Hint: Alkalinity = 10-3 =OH -+ HCO3 -+ 2CO3= H+

6.

The analysis of sample of water with pH has produced the following concentrations (mg/L)
Cations
Conc. (mg/L)
Anions
Conc. (mg/L)
Ca 2+
80
Cl100
Mg 2+
30
SO42201
Na +
72
HCO 3
165
K+
6
CO3
0
Calculate:
1. Total Hardness as mg/L CaCO3
2. Carbonate or Temporary Hardness as as mg/L CaCO3
3. Non-Carbonate or permanent hardness as as mg/L CaCO3
4. Alkalinity as mg/L CaCO3
5. TDS mg/L
6. SAR
7. % Sodium
8. RSC
9. Comment on the suitability of water for irrigation

7.

Tests for common ions are run on a sample of IIT Roorkee Campus water and the results are
shown below. If a 10% error in the balance is acceptable should the analysis be considered
complete? Draw a bar-diagram in milliequivalents per liter for this water. Also draw bardiagram in terms of mg/L as CaCO3.
Ca2+ = 60.4 mg/L
SO4 = 22.5 mg/L

HCO3 = 320 mg/L

Na+ = 20.0 mg/L

Mg2+ = 21.9 mg/L

Cl- = 15.5. mg/L

8.

If 250 mg/L Glucose is completely oxidized to CO2 find:

1. Theoretical Oxygen Demand (ThOD)
2. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
3. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
4. BOD5
5. Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

9.

Compute the ThOD of 108.75 mg/L of glucose (C6H12O6).

10.

The BOD of a wastewater sample is estimated to be 180 mg/L. What volume of undiluted
sample should be added to a 300 mL bottle? Also, what are the sample size and dilution factor
using this volume? Assume that 4 mg/L BOD can be consumed in the BOD bottle.

11.

If the BOD3 of a waste is 75 mg/L and the K is 0.150 day-1, what is the ultimate BOD?

12.

In order to find BOD of a sample of river water, DO values of 100 times diluted sample and
dilution water were measured at 20oC. Results are given as under
DO (sample) mg/L
DO dilution water (mg/L)
Initial
DO5
Initial
DO5
8.0
1.80
8.1
7.9
Calculate:
(a)
BOD5 of the sample at 20o
(b)
Ultimate BOD of the sample
(BOD rate constant (log base e) = 0.23/day)
(c)
The temperature of the river water recorded was 27 oC. What would be the
BOD5? ( coefficient = 1.047)
(d)
What would be the BOD remaining BOD remaining at 27oC after 5 days

13.

The BOD degradation constant of a wastewater is 0.23/d. The fraction of BOD exerted in five
days is 68.3 %. What will be the time required in days to reduce BOD by 50%?

14.

If the BOD3 of the waste is 75 mg/L and the K is 0.150 day-1, what is the ultimate BOD?

15.

A waste is being discharged into a river that has a temperature of 10 0C .What fraction of the
maximum oxygen consumption has occurred in four days if the BOD rate constant determined
in the laboratory under standard conditions is 0.115 day-1