MARKING GUIDE

FOMIC POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

Department: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (Petrochemical Engineering)
Semester: First semester Name of Lecturer: Mr. Bekindaka Mokundu
Course Title: Water treatment and management Date: February 2022
Course Code: PCH409 Starting Time:
Credit Value: 4 Ending Time:
Exam Venue: Buea Time Allowed: 3 hours
Total Score: 70 marks
 Instruction(s): Answer all Questions. You are reminded of the necessity for good English and orderly
presentation. Begin each section on a new page.

Section A – 10 marks

1. a. What is potable water? (1mk)

This is water that is generally safe for consumption by man or other animals or
good for food preparation.
b. What are the characteristics of a good potable water? (3mks)
- Has no smell
- Has no taste
- Has no color
- Has a neutral pH
c. Give two examples each of the following class of contaminants – Biological,
physical and chemical? (6mks)
Biological = Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, planktons and other forms of Algae
Physical = Pebbles, sand, silt, gravels and other rock particles
Chemical = Nitrates, Ammonia, herbicides, cosmetic products etc

Section B – 45 marks

2. a. Define Bioremediation? (2mks)

Bioremediation is the process of using enzymes; Microorganisms such as Fungi,
algae, Bacteria; and plants to breakdown/degrade complex substances (Pollutants)
in the environment to simpler molecules.
b. Differentiate between Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation? (4mks)
Bioaugmentation is the process in which microorganisms are added in a sample to
supplement the existing microbial population whereas Biostimulation involves
the addition of nutrients or other growth limiting co-substrates to stimulate the
growth of indigenous degraders.
c. Define the following terms as used in Phytoremediation? (3 + 3 = 6mks)
i) Phytoextraction

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This is the process by which plants (hyperaccumulators) actively eliminate
contaminants from soil or water, and translocate them to higher tissues where they
are accumulated. Plants are thus harvested as required and managed accordingly
i.e. the plants could be incinerated, composted or used as firewood, etc. Proper
disposal is essential for the plant biomass that accumulates the contaminants,
whereas, ash must be disposed of in hazardous waste landfill if the plants are
incinerated. For a successful phytoextraction, the contaminant needs to dissolve
into what the plant roots can absorb, the plant roots need to absorb and transport
the contaminants, the plant should be able to safely store the contaminants, and
lastly, the plant must adjust to any damages the contaminants might have caused
during transportation and storage.
ii) Phytostabilisation
This is the interaction between the plants’ rhizosphere, the contaminants and the
substrate in order to reduce the mobility of contaminants in the environment. This
process is used to restrain contaminants in the soil and groundwater through
absorption, adsorption and accumulation by the roots, or precipitation within the
rhizosphere (a process in which plant roots release plant exudates such as
phosphate, which may result to the formation of insoluble precipitate of the
contaminants, thus removing the contaminant from solution without having it
taken up into the plant). Phytostabilisation minimizes the mobility of
contaminants, prevents movement to the groundwater or air, and also decreases
bioavailability for entry into the food chain.
3. Using Diagrams only, Differentiate between submerged membrane
bioreactor and Side stream membrane Bioreactor? (10mks)

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4. Briefly elaborate on the following methods of Bioremediation?
a. Activated sludge system
Activated sludge is a sludge particles reduced in wastewater by the growth of
organisms in aeration tanks. The term ‘activated’ comes from the fact that the
particles teem with bacteria, fungi, and protozoa and is different from primary
sludge in the sense that the sludge particles contain many living organisms
that can feed on the incoming wastewater. Described simply, screened
wastewater is mixed with varying amounts of recycled liquid containing a
high proportion of organisms taken from a secondary clarifying tank, and it
becomes a product called mixed liquor. This mixture is stirred and injected
with large quantities of air, to provide oxygen and keep solids in suspension.
After a period of time, mixed liquor flows to a clarifier where it is allowed to
settle. A portion of the bacteria is removed as it settles, and the partially
cleaned water flows on for further treatment.
b. Trickling filter treatment system
A trickling filter is a type of wastewater treatment system. It consists of a
fixed bed of rocks, coke, gravel, slag, polyurethane foam, sphagnum peat
moss, ceramic, or plastic media over which sewage or
other wastewater flows downward and causes a layer of microbial slime
(biofilm) to grow, covering the bed of media. As the water flows through the
filter, solid particles are removed and trapped on the bed where the bacteria
breaks down all the organic particles. Pure liquid is then filtered out through
the bed layer due to gravity.
c. Rotating Biological contactors
A rotating biological contactor or RBC is a biological fixed-film treatment
process used in the treatment of wastewater following primary treatment. The
primary treatment process involves removal of grit, sand and coarse
suspended material through a screening process, followed by settling of
suspended solids. The RBC process allows the wastewater to come in contact
with a biological film in order to remove pollutants in the wastewater before
discharge of the treated wastewater to the environment, usually a body of
water (river, lake or ocean). A rotating biological contactor is a type of
secondary (Biological) treatment process. It consists of a series of closely
spaced, parallel discs mounted on a rotating shaft which is supported just
above the surface of the waste water. Microorganisms grow on the surface of
the discs where biological degradation of the wastewater pollutants takes
place.
d. Diffused aeration system (5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20mks)
Diffused aeration system is utilized in biological treatment processes to
facilitate oxygen transfer to the bulk liquid for chemical and biological

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reactions. Aerobic processes rely on chemoheterotrophic and
chemoautotrophic metabolism in which oxygen is the electron acceptor. The
amount of oxygen that must be transferred depends on the treatment goals for
carbonaceous and nutrient reduction. Suspended growth processes that are
designed to achieve carbon oxidation must be supplied with sufficient oxygen
to facilitate carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (cBOD) oxidation.
5. a. What is the main principle behind the advanced oxidation processes?
(2mks)
The use of the chemical reactivity of the hydroxyl (OH-) radical to destroy
pollutants and hence aid in water treatment.
b. What is the use of microwave and Ultra violet light in AOPs? (1mk)
They both provide energy for the breakdown of bonds and thus causing the
generation of the OH- Radical.

Section C – 15 marks

6. a. Define petrochemical wastewater? (1mks)

This is wastewater originating from petrochemical industries or oil related
industries which is generally rich in Hydrocarbons.
b. Give the full meaning of the following acronyms?
i) MBBR
Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor
ii) MSBR (2mks)
Membrane Sequencing Batch Reactor
c. Sate and explain the steps involved in the pretreatment of petrochemical
waste water? (4mks)
1) Physical treatment: Depending on the wastewater characteristics, physical
treatment such as adsorption by active carbon, copolymers, zeolite, etc. can be
used for removing hydrocarbons in the petrochemical wastewater. Evaporation is
proposed to remove oil residuals in saline wastewater. Dissolved air flotation
(DAF) is commonly used for wastewater containing oil/fat as well as suspended
solids, which can also be applied for petrochemical wastewater. Microfiltration
(MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) are also applicable for pretreatment before the
wastewater passes through, for example, reverse osmosis (RO) process for reusing
purposes.
2) Chemical Treatment: Enhancing hydrolysis by adding chemicals for
removing the long-chain organics, toxic material, or suspended solids can increase
the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) ratio of the wastewater. This includes
methods like Coagulation-flocculation, Micro-aeration, Ozonation and Micro-
electrolysis, all of which have proven beneficially in the removal of toxic
pollutants from petrochemical wastewater.

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d. What are the consequences of crude oil spills in water? (4mks)
- Death of aquatic life forms such as fishes
- Death of animals who’s trapped within oil spills as a result of activities such as
fishing especially fish-eating birds.
- Destruction of habitats of most para-aquatic species.
- Increased pollution reducing soil fertility where this contaminated water washes
off and reducing potable water if the spills run into clean rivers or streams.
- Death of plant life.

7. Why is wastewater treatment necessary in the petrochemical industry?

(4mks)

The petrochemical wastewater is rich in toxic compounds which must be treated before
discharging into receiving waters in the environment. This is to prevent the consequences listed
above and also in order to preserve plant life, aquatic animals or animals that live beside waters
and to avoid pollution by decreasing the toxicity of the petrochemical wastewater, usually
through biotreatment.

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