Page 1 of 12

Name:..En.No.:.......Batch:...Sl.No.:...
Date:.....Sign.(Student):..........Sign.(Invigilator):..........

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Roorkee 247 667
End Term Examination
(Autumn Semester; Session 2015-2016)
U.G. I Year; CEN-105: Introduction to Environmental Studies
Time: 3 Hrs
Max. Marks: 100
Note: i) All questions are compulsory; ii) Wherever necessary, clarify assumptions
and write answers in the required / correct units.
PART A (10 x 1 = 10 Marks)
Multiple Choice Questions (Note: Tick the right answer only; multiple ticks or cross marks will
be considered as wrong answer)
1. If the temperature with respect to height in the troposphere decreases at the rate of more than
1C per 100 m, then the atmosphere is
a) Stable
b) Unstable
c) Neutral
d) Inversion
2. Transport sector is the major source of
a) CO
b) SO2
c) Ammonia
d) Methane
3. Which of the following is not used as a coagulant in water treatment?
a) Alum (Al2(SO4)3.14H2O)
b) Ferric chloride (FeCl3)
c) Ferric sulfate (FeSO4)
d) Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)
4. Area under Paddy cultivation represents
a) manmade wetlands
b) stable wetlands
c) unstable wetland
d) fragile wetland

5. Which is not a significant mechanism for slow sand filter

a) Physical entrapment of particles in pores b) Ion exchange
c) Sedimentation on filter media
d) Microbial activity on the upper layer
6. Dioxins and Furans could be produced during
a) Anaerobic digestion of wastewater
b) Composting of municipal solid waste
c) Disinfection of wastewater
d) Incineration of municipal solid waste
7. In a waste stabilization pond methane is formed at the
a) Top layer zone
b) Bottom layer zone
c) Middle layer zone
d) None of the above
8. Low moisture and high carbon containing wastes should be preferably treated through:
a) Incineration
b) Air stripping
c) Bio-treatment
d) Sedimentation
9. Which of the following step (process) you will not generally use for groundwater treatment
a) Recarbonation
b) Disinfection
c) Softening Process
d) Rapid sand filtration
10. Which one has least effect on composting process?
a) Temperature
b) Pressure
c) Moisture
d) C: N ratio

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PART B (10 x 1 = 10 Marks)

True / False (Note: Write True or False in the space provided for the following statements
as per their correctness and incorrectness. Overwriting will be considered as wrong
answer)
1. Ozone is a primary pollutant.

[ False

2. Compost can be used as a soil conditioner or organic fertilizer.

True ]

3. Flow of energy in ecosystem is cyclic.

False ]

4. Normally turbidity in lake water is more than the river water.

False ]

5. Energy is released during photosynthesis process.

False ]

6. Excess nutrients in water bodies lead to the eutrophication.

True ]

7. Chemicals with low KOW is hydrophobic.

False ]

8. Food industry wastewater contains very low suspended solids.

[ False

9. Tertiary treatment of wastewater is used to remove nutrients from wastewater.

10. Pyrolysis is an oxidation process accomplished in the presence of abundant oxygen. [

]
True ]
False ]

PART C (10 x 1 = 10 Marks)

Fill in the Blanks (Note: Fill in the right answer without making corrections. Answers filled in
with corrections, overwriting, etc. will be considered as wrong answer)
1.

AQI stands for

Air Quality Index.

2.

Two main types of solid waste collection system are Haul Container System (HCS) and
Stationary Container System (SCS).

3.

Among CO2, CH4 and CFC, CFC has the highest global warming potential.

4.

Recarbonation after lime-soda process is done by CO2 gas.

5.

..SO2 and NO2 are the major precursor(s) to acidic deposition (acid rain).

6.

Gravity thickening is the preferable process for primary sludge treatment, whereas, Flotation
is preferable for secondary sludge treatment.

7.

The permissible limit for bacterial count in the drinking water as per Indian
Standards is . Nil . Numbers per 100 mL.

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PART D (35 Marks) (Brief Answers)

1. List the following in decreasing order of effectiveness as a coagulant: Cl-, Ca2+, Al3+ and Na+.
Also, explain the reason for your choice.
[2]

Answer:

Al3+ > Ca2+ > Na+ > ClA coagulant needs to be able to neutralize the negative charge on the surface of the
colloids. The coagulant should not be toxic and should be of higher positive charge.

2. How does alkalinity change when 500 ppm CO2 is bubbled through/ mixed with the solution?
Explain your answer with appropriate chemical reaction equations.
[2]

Answer:

Alkalinity =[HCO3-] + 2[CO32-] + [OH-]- [H+]

= Acid neutralizing capacity
Relevant reactions:
CO2(aq) CO2(g);
CO2(aq) + H2O(l)* H+(aq) + HCO3-(aq);
-2
+
H2O(l)* H+(aq) + OH-(aq)
HCO3 (aq) H (aq) + CO3 (aq);
The alkalinity will not change when CO2/H2CO3 is bubbled through the water as the
increase in alkalinity due to release of HCO3- or CO32-, will be negated by the equivalent
H+ ions released into the solution.

3. The octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow) of a pesticide is 300000. Calculate the

bioconcentration factor of the pesticide in fish with respect to water. If the concentration of the
pesticide in water is 2.0 ppb, what will be its concentration in fish?
[2]
Answer:
logBCF = 0.79 x logKOW - 0.4
Using Kow = 300000, we get BCF = 8451.344
Concentration of pesticide in fish = 2.00 * 8451.344 ppb
= 16902.69 ppb

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4. Compare the fixed dome type and floating dome type biogas plants.

[4]

Answer:

Janta/Fixed dome type

Floating Dome type Biogas Plant

Gas is released at variable

Gas is released at constant pressure

pressure
2

Identifying defects is difficult

Identifying the defects in gas holder easy

Cost of maintenance is low

Cost of maintenance is high/corrosion

Capital cost is low

Capital cost is high (for same capacity)

Space above the drum can be

Floating drum does not allow the use of

used

space for other purpose

Temperature is high during

Temperature is low during winter

winter
7

Life span is comparatively longer

Life is short

Requires more excavation work

Requires relatively less excavation

5. Draw the schematic cross-sectional diagram of modern municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill.
[4]
Answer:

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6. Draw the flowheet of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Process.

[6]

Answer:

7. With a neat sketch explain the various phenomena in various zones of stabilization ponds which
contribute on the removal of BOD from the water stream.
[5]
Answer:

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8. Briefly write about basic features and favorable meteorological conditions for the formation of
various types of plumes and draw their figures / sketches.
[5x2=10]
Answer:

Plume
type
Coning

Features/Characteristics of
Plume
The plume enlarges in the
shape of a cone. A major part
of pollution may be carried
fairly far downwind before
reaching ground. (Plume
spreads equally in the vertical
and horizontal as it propagates
downstream)

Meteorological /
Stability Conditions
Occurs under essentially
neutral stability, when
Environmental lapse
rate is equal to adiabatic
lapse rate, and moderate
to strong winds occur.
(Moderate wind speed,
Moderate radiation,
night time)
Under super-adiabatic
condition; Less wind
speed, Strong &
Moderate radiation, day
time

Looping

Plume whips up and down as

the atmosphere mixes around,
Vertical dispersion is very
high. (Although the large
eddies tend to disperse
pollutants over a wide region,
high ground level
concentrations may occur
close to the stack).

Fanning

Vertical dispersion is
suppressed by the stability of
the atmosphere, so pollution
does not spread up or toward
the ground. (The pollutants
disperse at the stack height,
horizontally in the form of a
fanning plume).

Occurs in the presence

of a negative lapse rate
when vertical dispersion
is restricted.
(Stable inversion
atmospheric conditions.
Usually occurs at night).

Lofting

Pollutants go up into
environment, i.e. mixing in the
upward direction is
uninhibited, but downward
motion is restricted. Such
lofting plumes do not result in
any significant concentration
at ground level. However, the
pollutants are carried
hundreds of kilometers from
the source.

Unstable atmospheric
conditions above the
plume, i.e. when the
stack is sufficiently high
and the emission is
above an inversion layer.

Fumigation

The movement of the

pollutants in the upward
direction is restricted. The
pollutants move downwards.
The resulting fumigation can
lead to a high ground level
concentration downwind of the
stack.

When the emission from

the stack is under an
inversion layer, i.e.
inversion stable
atmospheric conditions
above the plume and
unstable below

Figure / Sketch

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PART E (35 Marks)

(Note: Clearly write formula(s), assumptions, etc. and show all necessary steps to solve the
following numerical problems)
1. Determine i) wastewater BOD, ii) Deoxygeneration constant (kd), iii) Critical time (tc), and iv)
Critical deficit (Dc) for the following data:
River velocity = 2.6 km/d; Aeration constant = 0.44/d
River flow rate Qr = 50 m3/s
BOD of river water before wastewater drain joins it BODr(0) = 0
Wastewater flow rate Qw = 5 m3/s ; Do (initial deficit = 0)
Initial BOD (i.e. BOD at 0 km); BODu(0km) = 25 mg/L
BOD at 13 km downstream; BODu(13km) = 7.5 mg/L
Qr = 50 m3/s
BODr = 0

Wastewater flow rate Qw = 5 m3/s

13 km
Do (initial deficit = 0)
BODu(0km) = 25 mg/L

BODu(13km) = 7.5 mg/L

Solution
(i) [(wastewater BOD x 5) + 0] / (50+5) = 25
Wastewater BOD = 275 mg/L
(ii) BODt = BOD0e-kt ;

7.5 = 25 e-kt ; t = 13km/2.6 km/d = 5 ;

7.5 / 25 = e-k x 5 ; k x 5 = -ln 0.3 = 1.204;

k= 1.204/5 = 0.24/d

(iii) tc = (1/(ka-kd )) ln (ka/ kd)

tc = 1 / (0.44 - 0.24) ln (11/6) = 1/0.2 ln 0.44/0.22 = 3.03 days

(iv) Dc =

k d L o e -k d t c
Ka

= (0.24 / 0.44) 25 e-0.24

x 3.03

= 6.59 mg/l

[8]

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2. Estimate the landfill area needed to handle one years municipal solid waste (MSW) for
Delhi. Assume following data: population = 14 million, average per capita solid waste
generation = 0.6 kg/day, landfill density of 800 kg/m, and a single 3 m lift. Also, assume that
20 % of the landfill cell volume is soil used for cover.
[6]
Solution:
Solid waste generated in a year = 0.6x365x14000000
= 3066000000 kg
Volume of solid waste generated in a year = 3066000000 / 800
= 3832500 m3
Volume of landfill cell = 3832500 m3 / 0.8 = 4790625 m3
Area of landfill = 4258333 m3 / 3 = 1596875 m2

3. A wastewater treatment plant serving a city of 200,000 discharges 1.5 m3/s of treated effluent
having an ultimate BOD of 50.0 mg/L into a stream that has a flow of 8.70 m3/s and an ultimate
BOD of its own equal to 6.0 mg/L. The deoxygenation constant kd is 0.20/day.
a) Assuming complete and instantaneous mixing, estimate the ultimate BOD of the river just
downstream from the outfall.
b) If the stream has constant cross section so that it flows at a fixed speed equal to 0.30 m/s,
estimate the BOD remaining in the stream at a distance 30,000 m downstream.
[3+4=7]
Solution:
a) The BOD of the mixture of effluent and stream water can be found using
Lo = (QwLw + QrLr)/ (Qw + Qr )
= (1.5 m3/s x 50.0mg/L + 8.70 m3/s x 6.0mg/L )/
(1.5+8.70) m3/s
= 12.5 mg/L.

b) At a speed of 0.30 m/s, the time required for the waste to reach a distance 30,000 m
downstream would be:
t = 30,000 m/0.30 m/s *h/3600s * day/24 h = 1.16 days
So the BOD remaining at that point (30 km downstream) would be:
Lt = Loe-k t
= 12.5e- (0. 2 / d x 1.16d)
= 9.9mg/L

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4. On a sunny summer afternoon with an average wind velocity of u = 4 m/s, a stack with
height of 15 m and plume rise of 5 m emits an air pollutant with emission rate of 0.01 kg/s.
What would be (a) the most probable atmospheric condition around that location of stack, and
(b) find out the maximum ground level concentration in g/m3 at a downwind distance of 200 m
from the location of stack (assume y = 30 m and z = 22 m).
[2+5=7]
Solution:
(a) The atmospheric stability is Type B for a wind speed of 4 m/s and strong sunshine.

(b) Note that maximum concentrations occur on the plume centerline, at y = 0. Using the equation
for air pollution dispersion or Gaussian plume dispersion as:

(200,0,0)

0.01
=
4
2() (30 )(22 )
1
1
(0/30 )2 [(0 + 20)/22 ]2
2
2
1
+ [(0 + 20)/22 ]2
2

C(200,0,0) = 8 x 10-7 kg/m3

or C(200,0,0) = 800 g/m3

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5. A nuclear power plant converts one-third of its thermal energy into electrical energy. The
electrical power output of the plant is 2000 MW. The other two-thirds of the thermal energy is
taken away by cooling water that is drawn from a nearby river. The river has an upstream flow
of 500 m3/s and a temperature of 25 C.
If the cooling water is only allowed to rise in temperature by 5C, (a) how much water is
required for the cooling, and (b) what would be the river temperature just after it receives the
heated water from the cooling system? Specific heat of water is 4180 joule/kg.C.
[4+3=7]
Solution:
Power input (thermal) = 3 x 2000 MW = 6000 MW
Waste Energy = Total thermal energy- electrical energy
= 6000 MW - 2000 MW = 4000 MW
Heat extracted by cooling water = 4000 MW
M x S x change in Temp = M kg/s x 4180 J/Kg oC x 5oC = 4000 x 10^6 W
Water input M = 191387.56 kg/s
as the density of water =1000 kg/m3
(a) Water input V = 191387.56 kg/s / 1000 kg/m3 = 191.38756 m3/s
(b) Apply Mass balance at the output point
191.38756 x 30oC + (500-191.38756) x 25oC = 500 x XoC
XoC= 26.91 oC

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POOL OF EQUATIONS

P = g Q H

pV = nRT

KH =

[ H + ][ HCO3 ]
K a1 =
[CO2 ]( aq.)

Ka2 =

[ H + ][CO32 ]
[ HCO3 ]

kt = k20T-20

DOa =

Qw DOw + Qr DOr
Qw + Qr

Q L + Qr Lr
La = w w
Qw + Qr

Lt = La e

k kd
1 Da r
k d La

vs =

S = Q(P Pin ) + vs AP

h =

Q = vA

()2
22

'
vwater
=

( )

v=

H
vh
L

Q
As

R=

173()1/3
exp

vwater

vcont

(0.64)

T T
3
1.5 + 2.68 10 (P ) s a d

Ts

22 +

+ 2.62

( )

S=g/Ta (Ta/z +0.01C/m)

C=

= 0.47( )

vs =

h = -0.029

F =g*r2*vs. (1-Ta/Ts)

( )2
( + )2
2

2
+

22
22
2
2

vs d
u

g ( s )d 2
18

h =

(1.5+0.0096 )

H =

k d La k d t k r t
e e
+ Da e kr t
kr kd

C (t ) = C + (C0 C ) exp[(Q + vs A) / V )t ]

QPin + S
Q + vs A

Dt =

= 1-e-wA/Q

log(BCF) = 0.79 x log(KOW) - 0.4

C =

Da = DOs DOa
k r = k r , 20 T 20

k d = k d , 20 T 20

k
1
tc =
ln r
kr kd kd

pA

BODt = Lo(1 - e-kt)

3.9u1/ 2
kr = 3/ 2
h

kd t

[ A]aq

()2
22

2
22

z
u2 = u1 2
z1

v
2

22

h = 4.71[(Qh)0.444]/(u)0.694

=K

h
L

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Blank page for rough work