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Name Fadzai Fungura Student Number N01522920L Department Chemical Engineering COURSE Code Tce 5104 Lecturer DR Tshuma Assignment 1
Name Fadzai Fungura Student Number N01522920L Department Chemical Engineering COURSE Code Tce 5104 Lecturer DR Tshuma Assignment 1
LECTURER Dr tshuma
Assignment 1
1. Four elements included in the hierarchy for the planning of waste management system and
effectiveness of each in solid waste management systems.
2. How improper disposal of solid waste affect the health of plants and animals?
Land pollution results from improper disposal of waste material on the land or underground
in a manner that can contaminate soil or ground water. Poor management of landfills may
also result in leachate pollution of surface or underground water. This can directly or
indirectly cause harm to the health of animals and plants.
i. Solid waste especially polymers like plastics are made up of different chemical
elements bound together to form a compound. Polymers are made up of small units
called monomers. However these monomers have a structure similar to the structure
of hormones found in living organisms (people, animals, and fish).I f these polymers
are exposed on the land surface due to the environmental conditions, they are further
degraded into monomers. These monomers are washed away by rains into catchment
areas. As living organisms consume water, monomers are introduced into the system
of living organisms. Introduced monomers are mistaken with the genetic make-up of
living organism hence causing disease.
ii. Untreated liquid leachate from disposed solid waste either from open dumps or
improperly lined landfills percolates into the soil and contaminates ground or surface
water. When this contaminated water is used for domestic purposes like bathing,
drinking it can expose people or animals to diseases like cholera, dysentery. In plants
liquid leachate can cause stunted growth or death.
iii. Spread of diseases -Solid waste attracts insects, rodent vectors and other disease causing
organism that can transmit and spread diseases to animals or people e.g. Cholera due to
flies ,plague due to rates dwelling in solid waste.
iv. Exhaust fumes from solid waste collection vehicles, improper incineration and
uncontrolled burning of solid waste causes emission of toxic gases such as carbon
monoxide .Long term exposure of these gases can cause respiratory problems and lung
cancers especially to solid waste workers and surrounding residents. In most developing
countries solid waste workers are not provided with adequate safety wear, hence they
are highly exposed to diseases.
v. Emission of greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide from anaerobic
decomposition of organic solid waste leads to air pollution, climate change and
contribute to global warming.
vi. When organic solid waste undergoes decomposition it produces disgusting odor which
can be a serious challenge to the people living close to the landfill or waste dump.
QUESTION A3
Given Data
Population = 50 000
= 70 000 yd3
= 3 x 107 lb
= 2.8 x 107 lb
= 3.18 lb/day
b. State and explain three advantages and disadvantages of rotary kiln technology in
solid waste incineration?
Advantages of rotary kiln technology
i. The operation of a rotary kiln is flexible because the rate of rotation can be varied to
suit the varied quantities of solid waste injected. Also the rotation effect facilitates
mixing of material to oxygen and heat within the chamber.
ii. It can be used to incinerate solids, liquids and gases, in any combination.
iii. Comparing to other technologies, rotary kiln incineration requires less preparation or
conditioning of waste to be injected such as sorting, grinding and mixing .This is
because it can incinerate waste in all forms.
Disadvantages of rotary kiln incineration
i. High demand energy -Usually auxiliary fuel mixed with excess air is injected into the
rotating combustion chamber. As a result high amounts of excess air lead to high
demand of auxiliary fuel.
ii. The refractory lining of the rotary kiln can be damaged due to tumbling solids in the
waste injected. As a result maintenance costs can also be high because of the abrasive
characteristics of the waste and exposure of moving parts to high incineration
temperatures.
iii. Relatively high capital cost, operating costs and the need for trained personnel which
makes the rotary kiln technology expensive.
iv. High load of particulates on air pollution control devices since the kilns can used to
burn all forms of waste.
c. State and explain the criteria for the selection of a landfill site.
Depth of water table
The water level in the ground water table should be sufficiently below the base of any
excavation to enable landfill development. Also the Landfills should not be very close to
significant water bodies e.g. dams, rivers. This eliminates contamination of water bodies by
liquid leachate, which can be hazardous for aquatic life.
Proximity to air- ports or residential areas
Landfills should be located away from air-ports to avoid mist, dust, birds destructing airplanes.
Distance from collection
The suitability of access roads. The site of the landfill must be accessible to road for easy
transportation of the waste to the landfill.
QUESTION A5
Referring to Question 1, state and explain fully how solid waste obtained from domestic
waste can be used for a specific need for the community and describe fully the technology
that can be used. [15]