SKAA 2922/ SAB 2922 1

FINAL EXAMINATION
SEMESTER I, SESSION 2012/2013

COURSE CODE : SKAA 2922/ SAB 2922
COURSE : WASTEWATER ENGINEERING
PROGRAMME : SKAW/ SAW
DURATION : 2 HOURS
DATE : J ANUARY, 2013

INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES:
1. ANSWER FOUR (4) QUESTIONS ONLY.











WARNING!
Students caught copying/cheating during the examination will be liable for
disciplinary actions and the faculty may recommend the student to be expelled from
the study.

This examination question consists of ( 7 ) printed pages only.

SKAA 2922/ SAB 2922 2

Q1. (a) Briefly explain what would be the expected result of BOD and COD if
you do the analysis on industrial waste.
(3 marks)

(b) You have been asked by a local Environmental Agency to review
wastewater treatment plant for several factories in Tebrau area. A COD
test was carried out on wastewater from these factories. Table below
summarized the information of the test:

Factory A B C
Volume of diluted sample 2 mL 2 mL 2 mL
Sample dilution 1/100 1/10 1/1
Normality of FAS 0.025 N 0.025 N 0.025 N
Titration volume of Fe2+standard solution for blank 7.2 mL 6.9 mL 7.0 mL
Titration volume of Fe2+standard solution for sample 4.5 mL 2.1 mL 0 mL

(i) Compute the COD of raw wastewater from these factories.
(ii) Comment the results you obtained above (you should comment
on the strength of the wastewater and the dilution used in the
COD test).
(iii) State the difference between COD and BOD. Why do we need to
do both test to characterize industrial wastewater?
(iv) List two limitations of the BOD test.
(12 marks)

(c) Solid analyses were conducted on the domestic wastewater. The test was
done in duplicate. The average concentration of total solids, suspended
solids and volatile suspended solids in mg/L are 1027.78, 245.14 and
204.86 respectively. Based on the following test data, calculate X, total
volatile solid and Y.

Dish no. 1 2
i) weight of empty dish (g) 52.842 53.25
ii) weight of dish with sample (g) 110.0 104.0
iii) weight of dish with dry solids (g) Y 53.308
iv) weight of dish with ignited solids (g) 52.859 53.287
v) weight of filter paper (g) 0.1160 0.1165
vi) weight of filter & dry residue (g) 109.48% of weight of
filter paper no. 1 (iv)
116.13% of weight of
filter paper no. 2 (iv)
vii) weight of filter & ignited residue (g) 0.1170 0.1208
viii) sample volume (mL) X 72

(10 marks)
(25 marks)
SKAA 2922/ SAB 2922 3

Q2. (a) Define the followings:

(i) Sewerage System
(ii) Waste Stabilization Pond
(iii) Suspended Growth Process
(iv) Activated Sludge Process
(4 marks)

(b) Explain the role of the three components that exist in preliminary sewage
treatment.
(3 marks)

(c) What are the differences between the sludge produced in primary
sedimentation tank and the sludge produced in secondary sedimentation
tank? Why must the sludge be incorporated in the treatment system?
(4 marks)

(d) A waste stabilization pond system is designed to treat sewage from a
residential area of 15000 PE. The BOD of the raw sewage is 500 mg/L
and the lowest operating temperature is 24
o
C.

The following information may be used to answer the questions.

Pond depth = 1.4 m
Influent FC = 1 x 10
8
per 100 mL
Maturation detention = 3 days
First-order BOD
5
removal-rate constant = 0.3 per day at 20
o
C
First-order FC removal-rate constant = 2.6 per day at 20
o
C


(i) Determine the size (L:W=3:1) of the combined facultative and
maturation ponds required to obtain BOD and FC effluent of 20
mg/L and 1000 FC/100 mL, respectively. Prove that your design
fulfils the requirements.
(ii) Do you think the proposed system is a viable option in urban
area? J ustify your opinion.

(14 marks)
(25 marks)




SKAA 2922/ SAB 2922 4

Q3. (a) Explain the conventional activated sludge system with the aids of a flow
diagram.
(6 marks)

(b) Briefly discuss the differences between an activated sludge system and
biotower. Which one is better in your opinion? Why?
(6 marks)

(c) Define the followings:

(i) MLSS
(ii) F/M ratio

What is the relationship between sludge recycling and the above
parameters?
(3 marks)

(d) A conventional activated sludge treatment plant has been designed to
treat wastewater from 3000 PE. The plant has two systems operating in
parallel. The average BOD
5
coming to the treatment plant is about 300
mg/L and 40% are removed after primary sedimentation. Using the
typical design values as given in Table 1.0, determine:

(i) The BOD
5
of the effluent if the kinetic values of Y =0.5 kg/kg
and k
d
=0.05 d
-1
are to be used
(ii) The recycle flow rate, Q
r
, if MLSS and solid underflow
concentration, are 4000 mg/L and 12000 mg/L, respectively
(Hint: develop mass balance for suspended solid around
secondary clarifier as shown in Figure 1)

Figure 1
(10 marks)
(25 marks)

SKAA 2922/ SAB 2922 5

Q4. (a) Explain the biological phenomena that occur in attach growth secondary
treatment. Draw a suitable sketch to help your explanation.
(5 marks)

(b) What is the purpose of sludge digestion? What are the advantages of
anaerobic digestion compared to aerobic digestion?
(6 marks)

(c) A deep trickling filter is designed to treat sewage from a community of
20000 PE. The sewage has an average BOD of 170 mg/L. The primary
clarifier removes 35% of the BOD. Two towers are to be used (arranged
in parallel), each with a diameter of 6 m and a depth of 6 m. Pilot-plant
analysis has established a treatability constant of 0.055 min
-1
and the n
factor can be taken as 0.5. The recirculation ratio is to be 2 and the
operating temperature is 28
o
C.

(i) Determine the hydraulic loading (m
3
/m
2
.min)
(ii) Determine the final BOD effluent from each tower
(iii) If one of the towers has to close down due to mechanical
problems, what would be the final BOD effluent?

(14 marks)
(25 marks)


















SKAA 2922/ SAB 2922 6

Q5. (a) State the difference between waste stabilization pond and aerated lagoon.
Give two (2) advantages of the aerated lagoon compared to waste
stabilization pond.
(5 marks)

(b) Describe the operation of an aerated lagoon and explain the biological
process that take place in aerated lagoon. Draw a suitable sketch to help
your explanation.
(6 marks)

(c) An aerated lagoon is designed to treat sewage from a community of
25000 PE. The BOD
5
of the raw sewage is 300 mg/L and needs to be
reduced to 20 mg/L after passing through the maturation pond.

Dissolved Effluent BOD
5
= 15 mg/L
Minimum Operating Temperature = 27
o
C
Maximum Operating Temperature = 35
o
C
Y =0.65; b =0.07 per day; K =5 per day; K
1
=0.3 per day (all values at
20
o
C)

Based on the information given:

(i) Determine the HRT of the aerated lagoon
(ii) Determine the effluent BOD
5
of the aerated lagoon
(iii) Assuming 70% of the solids settling in the maturation pond,
determine the HRT of the maturation pond
(iv) Determine the area of the lagoon and the maturation pond.
Assume depth of the lagoon and maturation pond are 2.5 m and 2
m respectively
(v) Determine the quantity of oxygen required

(14 marks)
(25 marks)









SKAA 2922/ SAB 2922 7

Table 1.0 Design and operational parameters for activated sludge treatment of
municipal wastewater

Type of
process
Mean cell
residence
time, d
F/M ratio
kg BOD
5
/
kg MLSS.d
Volumetric
loading,
kg BOD
5
/m
3
. d
HRT in
aeration
basin, h
MLSS,
mg/L
Recycle
ratio
Tapered
aeration
5-15 0.2-0.4 0.3-0.6 4-8 1500-3000 0.25-0.5
Step aeration 4-15 0.2-0.4 0.6-1.0 3-5 2000-3500 0.25-0.75
Completely
mixed
4-15 0.2-0.4 0.8-2.0 3-5 3000-6000 0.25-1.0
Pure oxygen 8-20 0.2-1.0 1.6-4 1-3 6000-8000 0.25-0.5
Extended
aeration
20-30 0.05-0.15 0.16-0.40 18-24 3000-6000 0.75-1.5

EQUATIONS

u w
c
X Q
X
t

=
X
S Q
M
F
o o

=
o o
L
S Q



k
T
= k
20
(1.035)
T-20
k
T
= k
20
(1.19)
T-20
k k
T
T
1 1 20
20
105
( ) ( )
( . ) =



f
i
s
A
Q L 10
=
s,max
=350 (1.107 0.002T)
T-25






n
v
n
v
Q KD
Q KD
a
e
R
e
L
L
/
/
Re ) 1 (

+
= L
a
=
R
RL L
e i
+
+
1



Kt
L
F
i
e
+
=
1
R
02
= 1.5 (l
i
l
e
)Q
1
1
+
=
t K
l
l
i
e


bt
F L Y
X
e i
+

=
1
) (
X F L
e e
95 . 0 + =

=
) ( 8000 b a
COD Normality of Fe(NH
4
)
2
(SO
4
)
2
( )( )
n
m f
i
e
t K t K
l
l
1 1
1 1 + +
=
( )( )
n
m T f T
i
e
t k t k
N
N
+ +
=
1 1
d
o
c
k
tX
S S Y
t

=
) ( 1