Fabian, Jake Floyd G.

8.1 It has been suggested that the limiting concentration of phosphorus for accelerated eutrophication
is between 0.1 and 0.01 mg/L of P. Typical river water might contain 0.2 mg/L P, 50% of which comes
from farm and urban runoff, and 50% from domestic and industrial wastes. Synthetic detergents
contribute 50% of the P in municipal and industrial waste.
Answer:
a. If all phosphorus-based detergents are banned, what level of P would you expect in a typical river?
Using the maximum limiting concentration as influent, 1st black box:
Synthetic detergents: Q0= ? ; C0= 50%(C2)
Other sources of P: Q1= ? ; C1= 50%(C2)
Municipal and industrial waste: Q2= ? ; C2= 100%(C2)
2nd black box:
Municipal and industrial waste: Q2= ? ; C2= 50%(C4)
Farm and urban run-off: Q3 = ? ; C3= 50%(C4)
River: Q4=? P C4= 0.2mg/L (100%)

Q0, C0
1. Municipal and
Q1, C1 industrial waste Q2, C2
2.River:
Q3, C3 0.2mg/L P Q4 C4

Assuming steady state since a river is a flowing body of water. Knowing that synthetic detergents are
banned, Q0C0 will no longer be added to the influent on black box 1 thus Q2, C2 will be reduced to half.

Material Balances on 1st black box:

Q0, C0 + Q1, C1= Q2, C2 0 + 0.5Q1(C2) = Q2(C2) Q2=0.5Q1

Material Balances on 1st black box: Q3 C3 = Q2 C2

Q2 C2 + Q3C3 = Q4 C4 2Q2C2 = Q4 C4 2(0.5Q1)(0.5C4) = Q4C4 0.5Q1=Q4

The mass flow in the river is reduced to half.

b. If this river flows into a lake, would you expect the phosphate detergent ban to have much effect on
the eutrophication potential of the lakewater? Why or why not?

Yes, because the phosphorus that will go to the lake and accumulate.
8.7 If algae contain P:N:C, in the proportion of 1:16:100, which of the three elements would be limiting
algal growth if the concentration in the water were 0.20mg/L P, 0.32mg/L N & 1.00mg/L C.

Answer:

Knowing that the atomic masses of P= 30.97 g/mol, N=14g/mol & C= 12 g/mol

Total concentration = ( 0.2 + 0.32 + 1)mg/L = 1.52mg/L

Mass of P in water= 30.97g/mol P x (1 mol P)/(6.022x1023) x 0.2/1.52 x1= 6.767x10-24g

Mass of N in water= 14g/mol P x (1 mol P)/(6.022x1023) x 0.32/1.52 x16= 7.83x10-23g

Mass of C in water= 12g/mol P x (1 mol P)/(6.022x1023) x 1/1.52 x100= 1.31x10-21g

Since phosphorus has the least mass, therefore it is the element that limits algal growth.

8.8 If offensive football teams are described in terms of the positions as linemen (L), receivers (R),
running backs (B), and quarterbacks (Q) in the ratio of L:R:B:Q of 5:3:2:1, and a squad has the following
distribution of players: L=20, R=16, B=6, Q=12. How many offensive teams can be created with all the
positions filled, and what is the limiting position? Show calculations.

Answer:

using nPr:

No. Of offensive teams that can be created= 20P5 + 16P3 x 6P2 x 12P1 = 1,863,882 teams possible

20P5 = 20!/(20-5)! = 1,860,480 permutations of linebackers

16P3 = 16!/(16-3)! = 3360 permutations of receivers

6P2 = 6!/(6-2)! = 30 permutations of running backs

12P1 = 12!/(12-1)! = 12 permutations of quarterbacks

Since the quarterbacks have the least number of permutations, it is the limiting position of an offensive
football team.

8.10. Why would an environmental engineer possibly want to converse with a wildlife biologist during a
project?

Since an environmental engineer integrates sciences and engineering principles to improve the natural
environment, to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and
to clean up pollution sites, they need to converse with a wildlife biologist because they are the people
that have the expertise on the study on wild animals and their habitats and they may also managed
wildlife habitats so that it wont be harmful to the animals.
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