Tripoli University / Chemical Engineering

Department Graduate student program

Water and wastewater treatment
Final Take home Exam Fall- 2016 Tuesday Jan. 29th, 2017
Examiner: Dr. M. A. El-Behlil Time allowed: 4
days
PART (A) FINAL EXAM
Please select the correct answer
1. "Aerobic bacteria demand (…............) to decompose dissolved pollutants. Large amounts of
pollutants require (………..) quantity of bacteria. Therefore, the demand for (...............) will
be (...............)."
Oxygen, small, high, large, low, less
2. "The (…………) is a measure of the quantity of dissolved organic pollutants that can be
removed in (................) oxidation by the bacteria".
COD, BOD, TOC, Biological, Chemical
3. The (………..) is a measure of the quantity of dissolved organic pollutants that can be
removed in (…………..) oxidation b adding (.............) acids.
TOC, BOD, COD, Biological, Chemical, weak, strong, neutral
4. The ratio of (………../ ……….) gives an indication of the fraction of pollutants in the
wastewater that is (....................).
TOC, ThOD, BOD, COD, Biodegradable, Non-Biodegradable
5. Filtration is an advanced treatment process where the (…………..) and (………) impurities
are separated from water by the passage through a (…………) medium, usually a bed of
( ............).
Clay, Sand, porous, colloidal , suspended, dissolved,
6. Most particles removed in filtration are (…………) than the (………..) (………..) Between
the sand grains and therefore, adequate particle (……………) by (……………) is extremely
important.
Coagulation, smaller, larger, pore, flocculation, destabilized, size
7. Fresh wastewater arriving at the treatment plant can be recognized by:
a. pH below 7.0.
b. Black color.
c. Dissolved oxygen level around 1 mg/L.
d. Strong hydrogen sulfide odor.
8. The wastewater microorganisms that require at least 1 mg/L of free oxygen to function at
peak performance are called:
a. Aerobic organisms.
b. Anaerobic organisms.
c. Autotrophs.
d. Denitrifiers.
9. Domestic wastewater:
a. Can change between the time it enters the collection system and arrives at the
treatment plant.
b. Can contain chemicals that are toxic to the microorganisms.
c. Is constantly changing in volume and composition.
d. All of the above.
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10. The main source of sulfur-containing compounds in domestic wastewater is:
a. Carbohydrate.
b. Fat.
c. Protein.
d. Sugars.
11. To prevent the accumulation of grit, sewer collection systems are designed to provide
a. Flow velocity:
a. Greater than 1 ft/sec.
b. Less than 1 ft/sec.
c. That is evenly distributed.
d. That is turbulent.
12. The most common type of chemical treatment used in wastewater treatment is:
a. Activated sludge.
b. Chlorination.
c. Sedimentation.
d. Sludge dewatering.
13. Microorganisms remove suspended organic material from wastewater by attaching it to the
surface of their cells. This process is called:
a. Absorption.
b. Adsorption.
c. Osmosis.
d. Permeability.
14. Which group of organisms can make their own food from strictly inorganic matter?
a. Aerobic
b. Anaerobic
c. Autotrophic
d. Heterotrophic
15. A positive total coliform test indicates:
a. The possible presence of contamination from fecal material.
b. The possible presence of pathogenic bacteria.
c. The presence of coliform bacteria.
d. All of the above.
16. The raw influent of domestic sewage typically will have a BOD in the range of:
a. 10-20 mg/L.
b. 100-150 mg/L.
c. 100-250 mg/L.
d. 200-350 mg/L.
17. Chemicals that become electrically charged when they dissolve in water are called:
a. Dissolved solids.
b. Electrolytes.
c. None-electrolytes.
d. Settleable solids.
18. Examples of gases that are very soluble in water are:
a. Ammonia and chlorine.
b. Methane and ammonia.
c. Oxygen and methane.

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 d. b and c.
19. Which gas can be classified as an organic chemical?
a. CH4
b. H2S
c. N2
d. NH3
20. A solution is considered to have a neutral pH if it contains:
a. Equal amounts of hydronium and hydroxide ions.
b. Fewer hydronium ions than hydroxide ions.
c. Fewer hydroxide ions than hydronium ions.
d. More hydronium ions than hydroxide ions.
21. As the temperature of wastewater increases, the solubility of oxygen and
microorganism activity (oxygen use) .
a. Decreases, decreases
b. Decreases, increases
c. Decreases, remains constant
d. Increases, decreases
22. Organisms that thrive at temperatures between 50º and 104° F (10º to 40° C) are called:
a. Autotrophic.
b. Mesophilic.
c. Psychrophilic.
d. Thermophilic.
23. Label the drawing to indicate the method used for treatment. Write only the letter on the
drawing.

a. Biological treatment
b. Chemical treatment
c. Physical treatment
24. Solids that move to the bottom of a container within 60 minutes are called:
a. Settleable solids.
b. Suspended solids.
c. Total solids.
d. Volatile solids.
25. In trickling filter the microorganisms are to filter media while in activated sludge
systems the microorganisms are in the water.
Dissolved, mixed, attached, monitored, suspended

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26. The effluent treated wastewater typically will have a BOD in the range of:
a) 5 - 10 mg/L
b) 10 – 20 mg/L
c) 21 - 25 mg/L
d) 25 – 35 mg/L
27. The water hardness of the softened water is best for the consumer in the range of:
a) 50 -150 mg/L as CaCO3
b) 150-200 mg/L as CaCO3
c) 200 -300 mg/L as CaCO3
28. Precipitation of CaCO3 during hardness removal will continue slowly unless the water is
stabilized. The most common stabilization process can be accomplished by the addition of:
a) Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
b) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
c) Both (a) and (b)
29. Advanced or tertiary treatment may include which of the following processes:
a) Coagulation – sedimentation.
b) Facultative decomposition and aeration.
c) Aeration followed by sedimentation.
d) Settling and centrifugation.
e) All of the above.
30. The total solids in wastewater are composed of:
a) Dissolved solids and filterable solids.
b) Suspended solids and settleable solids.
c) Colloidal solids and non settleable solids.
d) Dissolved solids and suspended solids.
31. True .color of water is caused by:
a) Dissolved solids.
b) Suspended solids.
c) Both (a ) and (b).
32. as the hydrogen ion concentration in solution increases, the pH:
a) Increases.
b) Decreases.
c) Says as is.
33. Solids left in a porcelain dish after evaporation at 104°C of a measured volume of a
Filtered water sample, is called:
a) Suspended solids.
b) Total solids.
c) Dissolved solids.
34. Conductivity of water can be used as a rough measure of:
a) Total suspended solids.
b) Total dissolved solids.
c) Turbidity.
35. Alkalinity of natural water results from the presence of:
a) Nitrates.
b) Carbon dioxides.
c) Bicarbonates.

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36. Highly alkaline water often has:
a) A low level of dissolved solids.
b) A high level of suspended solids.
c) A high level of dissolved solids.
37. Permanent hardness of water is caused by presence of calcium and magnesium:
a) Sulfates and chlorides.
b) Carbonates and bicarbonate.
c) Bicarbonates and sulfates.
38. Discharge of water containing high levels of ammonia nitrogen into water bodies is not
desirable because ammonia:
a) Is toxic to aquatic life.
b) Lowers the dissolved oxygen concentration.
c) Both (a) and (b).
39. Eutrophication of water bodies is due to the presence of excessive concentrations of:
a) Iron and manganese.
b) Nitrogen and phosphorus.
c) Calcium and magnesium.
40. for domestic wastewater:
a) BOD5>COD.
b) BOD5 < COD.
c) BOD5 = COD.
41. Coliform bacteria are:
a) Pathogenic.
b) Not pathogenic.
c) Toxic.
42. Cholera is a:
a) Bacterial disease.
b) Viral disease.
c) Protozoan disease.
43. Groundwater is usually:
a) Open to pollution.
b) Free of turbidity.
c) Free of dissolved gases.
44. Within homes, water used for toilet flushing and 'bathing accounts for almost:
a) 10% of total domestic use.
b) 20% of total domestic use.
c) 80% of total domestic use.
45. The design capacity of water treatment plants is based on the:
a) Maximum hourly demand.
b) Maximum daily demand.
c) Average daily demand.
46. Addition of alum (aluminum sulfate) to water:
a) Reduces the alkalinity.
b) Increases the pH.
c) Increases the alkalinity.

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47. Aeration of groundwater can remove:
a) Soluble compounds.
b) Dissolved gases.
c) Pathogens.
48. Design parameters that govern the efficiency of gravity settling basins are:
a) The overflow rate.
b) The detention time.
c) Both a and b.
49. Volatile solids of a water sample is a measure of the;
a) Organic content.
b) Inorganic content.
c) Both a and b.
50. Water from wells is more likely to contain H2S and be higher in dissolved solids than
surface water supplies. a. ( T ) b. ( F )

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 Tripoli University / Chemical Engineering
Department Graduate student program
Water and wastewater treatment
Final Take home Exam Fall- 2016 Tuesday Jan. 29th, 2017
Examiner: Dr. M. A. El-Behlil Time allowed: 4
days

Question No. 1 (40 points)

A. A bio-tower process treats an average flow of 8 MGD with a BOD concentration of 150
mg/L which was received from primary clarifiers having 30 % removal efficiency. If
the recycle flow rate is two times the influent, what is the effluent concentration of BOD
(mg/L)?

B. A BOD analysis of a wastewater yielded the following results. Using Thomas slope
method given below to determine the values of the reaction rate constant ( k ) and
the ultimate BOD (L).

Time (day) (t) 0 1 2 3 4 5

BOD ,mg/L (y) 0 65 109 138 158 172
(t/y)1/3 =a + b t where a (Intercept) = (1/2.3k L)1/3 , b = (slope) = (2.3 k )2/3/(6 L1/3) k
= 2.61 b /a , L = 1/(2.3 k a )
reaction rate constant ( k ) = The ultimate BOD (L) =

Question No. 2 (40 points)

A conventional activated sludge system treats 64 MGD of a municipal wastewater with the
following chemical and physical parameters:

Influent BOD 200 mg/L

Effluent BOD 15 mg/L
Half saturation constant (Ks) 36 mg/L
Specific growth rate (µ^) 0.4 day -1
Endogenous respiration constant (Kd) 0.05 day -1
Yield coefficient (Y) 0.6 Kg cells/Kg BOD
Recycled solid concentration (Xr) 9500 mg/L
Hydraulic detention time in the aeration basin (ɵ) 8 hours

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 Calculate the following:
a) The Mean cell residence time or sludge age in (days) .
b) The microorganism concentration in the aeration basin in mg/L.
c) The food to microorganism ratio (F/M) in Kg BOD/ Kg cells –day.
d) The sludge production rate (QwXu) in Kg/day.
e) The waste sludge flow rate (Qw) in m3/day.
f) The recycle ratio (α) .
g) The recycle sludge flow rate (Qr) in m3/day The amount of oxygen required in (Kg/day)
equals to:
h) The volume of air required in (m3/day) , assuming 15% oxygen transfer efficiency and
ρO2 = 0.2748 Kg O2/m3 air.

Question No. 3 (40 points)

75,000 gal/day of primary and secondary sludge is produced in a wastewater treatment plant.
The sludge is sent to a two stage anaerobic digester so that the sludge volume can be reduced
and methane gas can be recovered as a fuel source for heating the plant facilities

Fixed solids of raw sludge 28% by weight

Volatile Solids of raw sludge 72% by weight
Influent BODult 56000 mg/L
Effluent BODult 8000 mg/L
Endogenous respiration constant (Kd) at 25 ºC 0.03 day-1
Yield coefficient (Y) 0.06 Kg cells/Kg BODult
Mean cell residence time ( ɵc ) 15days
Methanation reaction C6H12O6 3 CO2 + 3 CH4
Aerobic reaction (1) C6H12O6 + 6 O2 3 CO2 + 6 H2O
Anaerobic reaction (2) 3 CH4 + 6 O2 3 CO2 + 6 H2O

( )

( )

Calculate the following:

a) The average detention time (ɵ) in days.

b) The produced biomass concentration (Xbiomass) in mg/L.
c) The fixed suspended solids concentration (XFSS) of the raw sludge in mg/L.
d) The volatile suspended solids concentration (XVSS) of the raw sludge in mg/L.
e) The total suspended solids concentration (XTSS) leaving the first stage of digester in mg/L
f) The cubic meters of methane (CH4) produced per Kg of BODult at the specified
temperature of 25 ºC .
g) The daily production of methane in (m3/day) .

HINT:
m3 CH4/day = (a)m3CH4/Kg BOD Q (m3/day) {S0 Kg BOD/m3 - Se Kg BOD/m3 – 1.42 (Xbiom Kg cells/m3)}
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Question No. 4 (40 points)
A. What are the purposes of the sludge treatment in wastewater treatment plants? What are
the typical methods used in sludge treatment?
B. What is the value of the sludge volume index (SVI) for a mixed liquor suspended solids
(MLSS) suspension at an initial concentration of 2200 mg/L that settles to the 385 mL mark
in a one Liter graduated cylinder after 30 minutes?.
C. A wastewater flow of 1900 m3 /d has 200 mg/L suspended solids (SS). Air flotation tests
show that 0.05 mg air/mg solids give an optimum floatation. The design temperature is
20° C, and the air solubility (a S) equals 18.7 ml/L at this temperature. The fraction of air
absorption at these conditions (f) is 0.5, and the over flow rate is 117 m3/(day-m2).
a) Determine the required pressure in (atm) and floatation tank area in (m2).
b) If air is recycled at the same mentioned conditions at an operating pressure of
3.0 atm , determine the recycle ratio (R/Q), also determine the floatation
tank area (m2).

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10
Question No. 5 (20 points)

The continuous flow reactor (CFR) shown below is used to determine the kinetic parameters
used in the design of wastewater treatment facilities. You are required to conduct material
balance for the substrate (S) and biomass (X) around the reactor. Assuming steady state
condition for biomass growth rate ( dX/dt = 0), and the substrate (- dS/dt = 0).
a) Prove that :
( )
( )
b) Prove that : ( )

c) Rearrange the answer in part (b) to get the following linear relation that is used to
determine the parameters the maximum specific growth rate (µm ) and the yield
coefficient (Y):

( )
( )

( ) ( )

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