Wastewater Question Bank PDF

CH8004 Waste Water Treatment 2019-2020
UNIT I
WASTE WATER TREATMENT AN OVERVIEW
Part A
1. Define Waste Water
Wastewater (or waste water) is any water that has been affected by human
use. Wastewater is used water from any combination of domestic, industrial, commercial or
agricultural activities, surface runoff or storm water, and any sewer inflow or sewer infiltration.
Wastewater comes in three main types namely Blackwater, Graywater and Yellow water. This
is wastewater that originates from toilet fixtures, dishwashers, and food preparation sinks. It is
made up of all the things that you can imagine going down the toilets, bath and sink drains.
2. What is the objective of Waste water management?

The objective of municipal and industrial waste water treatment is to extract pollutants,
remove toxicants, neutralize coarse particles, and kill pathogens so that quality of
discharged water is improved to reach the permissible level of water to be discharged
into water bodies or for agricultural land. Protection of the environment in a manner commensurate
with public health, economic, social, and political concerns.
3. Define Unit Operation.

Unit operation is a basic step in a process. Unit operations involve a physical change or
chemical transformation such as separation, crystallization, evaporation, filtration, polymerization,
isomerization, and other reactions. For example, in milk
processing, homogenization, pasteurization, and packaging are each unit operations which are
connected to create the overall process. A process may require many unit operations to obtain the
desired product from the starting materials, or feedstock. Methods of treatment in which the
application of physical forces predominates are known as unit operations.
4. Define Unit Processes.

Waste water treatment is any operation / process or combinations of operations
and processes that can reduce the objectionable properties of waste water and render it less
dangerous. Waste water treatment is a combination of physical, chemical and biological processes
Methods of treatment in which the removal of contaminants is brought about my chemical or
biological reactions are known as unit processes.
5. How Preliminary treatment of Wastewater is carried out?

o Screening
o Grit removal
o Flow equalization
o Fat and grease removal
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St.Joseph’s College of Engineering Department of Chemical Engineering
6. How Secondary treatment of Wastewater is carried out?

o Activate sludge process (ASP)
o Surface-aerated lagoons (Lagoons)
o Constructed wetlands
o Filter beds (Oxidizing beds) – Trickling Filter
o Soil bio-technology
o Biological aerated filters
o Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC)
o Membrane bioreactors
o Secondary sedimentation tank
7. How Tertiary treatment of Wastewater is carried out?

o Filtration (Rapid Sand Filter, Slow Sand Filter & Adsorption)
o Lagooning
o Nutrient removal (Nitrogen & Phosphorus removal)
o Disinfection
8. Define Biosolids
Biosolids may be defined as organic wastewater solids that can be reused after
suitable sewage sludge treatment processes leading to sludge stabilization such as anaerobic
digestion and composting. Alternatively, the biosolids definition may be restricted by local
regulations to wastewater solids only after those solids have completed a specified treatment
sequence and/or have concentrations of pathogens and toxic chemicals below specified levels.
9. What are the treatment objectives for WWT?

At initially based on the
1. Public health and
2. Adverse conditions caused by the discharge of wastewater to the environment.
10. What is clean water act?

The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 is the overarching federal law for managing
surface water quality in the United States. The CWA employs regulatory and non-regulatory tools
to reduce point sources of pollutant discharges into waterways, finance municipal wastewater
treatment facilities, and manage polluted runoff. Establishes the National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES), a permitting program based on uniform technological minimum
standards for each discharger.
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11. What is Water Quality Act of 1987?

Strengthens federal water quality regulations by providing changes in permitting and adds
substantial penalties for permit violations. Amends solids control program by emphasizing
identification and regulation of toxic pollutants in sewage sludge.
12. What are the physical characteristics of Waste water?
• Total solids (TS)
• Total volatile solids (TVS)
• Total fixed solids (TFS)
• Total suspended solids (TSS)
• Volatile suspended solids (VSS)
• Fixed suspended solids (FSS)
• Total dissolved solids (TDS)
• Settleable solids (SS)
• Particle size distibution (PSD)
13. What is turbidity?

A measure of the light-transmitting properties of water, is another test used to indicate the
quality of waste discharges and natural waters with respect to colloidal and residual suspended
matter.
14. What are the chemical characteristics of Waste water?
• Free ammonia (NH4+)
• Organic nitrogen (Org N)
• Total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN = Org N + NH4+)
• Nitrites (NO2-)
• Nitrates (NO3-)
• Total nitrogen (TN)
• Inorganic phosphorus (Inorg P)
• Total phosphorus (TP)
• Organic phosphorus (Org P)
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15. Define absorption.

The absorbance of a solution is a measure of the amount of light, of a specified wavelength,
that is absorbed by the constituents in solution. Carbon absorption is a widely used method of
home water treatment because of its ability to improve water by removing disagreeable tastes and
odors, including objectionable chlorine. Activated carbon effectively removes many chemicals and
gases, and in some cases it can be effective against microorganisms.
16. Define conductivity.

The electrical conductivity (EC) of a water is a measure of the ability of a solution to
conduct an electrical current. Conductivity increases with the increase in the concentration of ions
in the wastewater. The measured EC value is used as a surrogate measure of a TDS. The salinity
of treated wastewater to be used for irrigation is estimated by measuring its EC. Unit of EC is
millisiemens per meter (mS/m). TDS (mg/L) = EC (dS/m or µmho/cm) x (0.55 – 0.70). Ionic
strength of the solution I = 1.6 x 10 -5 x EC (dS/m or µmho/cm)
17. What is BOD?

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed (i.e.
demanded) by aerobic biological organisms to break down organic material present in a given
water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period. The BOD value is most commonly
expressed in milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre of sample during 5 days of incubation at
20 °C and is often used as a surrogate of the degree of organic pollution of water. BOD reduction
is used as a gauge of the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants. BOD of wastewater
effluents is used to indicate the short term impact on the oxygen levels of the receiving water.
18. What is the importance of BOD?
1. To determine the approximate quantity of oxygen that will be required to biologically
stabilize the organic matter present,
2. To determine the size of wastewater treatment facilities,
3. To measure the efficiency of some treatment processes, and
4. To determine compliance with wastewater discharge permits
19. Sketch microbial growth curve.
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20. What are the limitations in the BOD test?

1. A high concentration of active, acclimated seed bacteria is required.
2. Pretreatment is needed when dealing with toxic wastes, and the effects of nitrifying
organisms must be reduced.
3. Only the biodegradable organics are measured.
4. The test does not have stoichiometric validity after the soluble organic matter present in
solution has been used.
5. The relatively long period of time required to obtain test results
PART B
1. Discuss WWT process in detail.
2. Explain Activated Sludge Process (ASP).
3. Discuss in detail about trickling filter.
4. Discuss in detail about Rotating Biological filter.
5. Explain Wastewater regulations in detail.
6. What are the constituents/characteristics of WWT?
7. Explain BOD in detail.
8. Explain modeling of BOD reaction in detail.
9. Discuss microbial growth curve in detail.
10. Determine the concentration of total solids, total volatile solids, suspended solids, volatile
suspended solids, total dissolved solids and total volatile dissolved solids. Sample volume is 50
mL.
UNIT II
PROCESS ANALYSIS AND SELECTION
1. Write notes on packed bed reactors.
Packed-Bed reactors are filled with some type of packing material such as rock, slag,
ceramic etc. Can be operated in either downflow or upflow mode. Packing can be continuous or
in stages. Used in non-submerged and submerged trickling filter biological treatment units, depth
filtration, air stripping and natural treatment systems.
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2. What are the characteristics of Wastewater flows?

The components of waste water flows includes:
1. Domestic (Sanitary) wastewater: discharged from residences, commercial,

institutional, and from other similar facilities.
2. Industrial wastewater: water in which industrial waste predominates.
3. Infiltration/inflow (I/I): Infiltration is extraneous water that enters the collection system
through leaking joints, cracks, breaks, or pores. Inflow is storm water that enters the
collection system from storm drain connections (catch basin), roof ladders, or though
access port (manhole) covers.
4. Storm water: Runoff resulting from rainfall and snowmelt.
3. Write notes on packed bed reactors.

Packed-Bed reactors are filled with some type of packing material such as rock, slag,
ceramic etc. Can be operated in either downflow or upflow mode. Packing can be continuous or
in stages. Used in non-submerged and submerged trickling filter biological treatment units, depth
filtration, air stripping and natural treatment systems.
4. Discuss about fluidized bed reactors.

Fluidized-Bed reactor is similar to packed bed reactors in many respects, but the packing
material is expanded by the upward movement of fluid through the bed. Porosity can be controlled
by varying the flow rate of the fluid. Aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment, upflow sludge
blanket reactors and air stripping.
5. What are the steps involved in preparation of mass balance analysis?

• Prepare a simplified schematic or flow diagram of the system.
• Draw a system or control volume boundary to define the limits over which the mass balance
is to be applied.
• List all the pertinent data and assumptions that will be used in the schematic diagram.
• List all the rate expressions for the biological or chemical reactions that occur within the
control volume.
• Select a convenient basis on which the numerical calculations will be based.
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6. Sketch the hourly variations in domestic wastewater flowrates.
7. Define Sustained Peak factor.
Sustained peaking factor, PF =

8. What are the reactors used in wastewater treatment.
 Batch reactors
 Complete – mix reactors
 Plug – flow reactors
 Complete – mix reactors in series
 Packed – bed reactors
 Fluidized bed reactors
9. What are the factors influencing the selection?
 Nature of wastewater
 Nature of the reaction
 Reaction kinetics governing the treatment process
 Process performance requirements, and
 Local environmental conditions.
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10. What is the principle of mass balance.

Mass is neither created or destroyed but the form of mass can be altered. Mass balance
analysis is used to define what occurs within a treatment reactor as a function of time. A general
mass balance analysis is given as:
Accumulation = inflow – outflow + generation
11. What is process selection?

Process selection involves the detailed evaluation of various factors that must be
considered when evaluating unit operations and processes and other treatment methods to meet
current and future treatment objectives.
12. What are the assumptions of mass balance analysis?

1. Volumetric flow rate into and out of the control volume is constant.
2. The liquid within the control volume is not subject to evaporation (constant
volume)
3. The liquid within the control volume is mixed completely.
4. A chemical reaction involving a reactant A is occurring within the reactor.
5. The rate of change in the concentration of the reactant A that is occurring within
the control volume is governed by a first-order reaction.
13. What are the importance factors in process selection?
 Process applicability
 Applicable flow range
 Applicable flow variation
 Influent wastewater characteristics
 Inhibiting & unaffected constituents
 Climatic constraints
 Process sizing based on reaction kinetics or process loading criteria
 Process sizing based on mass transfer rates or process loading criteria.
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14. What is inherent reliability?

Measure of maintainability or reliability of an item based either on its current operating
context or the designed reliability under ideal operating conditions.
15. What is mechanical Reliability?

Mechanical Reliability is the probability that a spare, item, or unit will perform its
prescribed duty without failure for a given time when operated correctly in a specified
environment.
16. Define Batch Reactor.

Flow is neither entering or leaving, the liquid contents are mixed completely. Often used
to blend chemicals or dilute concentrated chemicals and in Activated-sludge biological treatment.
17. Define peclet number

Peclet number represents the ratio of mass transport brought about by advection and
dispersion.
If Pe >> 1, advection is dominant.
If Pe << 1, dispersion is dominant
18. Write notes on complete mix reactors in series.

Complete mix reactors in series used to model flow regime that exist between the ideal
hydraulic flow patterns corresponding to the complete-mix and plug flow reactors. Used in lagoon
treatment systems and to simulate non-ideal flow in PFR.
19. What is complete mix reactor?

It is assumed that complete mixing occurs instantaneously and uniformly throughout the
reactors. Complete mixing can be obtained by redistributing its contents uniformly and
continuously. Time required to obtain complete mixing depends on reactor geometry and power
input. Used in aerated lagoons and aerobic sludge digestion.
20. Discuss about plug flow reactors.

No longitudinal mixing takes place. The particles retain their identity and remain in the
reactor for a time equal to the theoretical detention time. This type of flow is approximated in long
open tanks with high length-to-width ratio. Used in chlorine contact basin and natural treatment
systems.
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PART B
1. Discuss in detail about variations in wastewater flowrates.
2. What are the various reactors used in wastewater treatment.
3. Discuss in detail about modeling ideal flow in reactors.
4. Discuss in detail about modeling in plug flow reactors.
5. Explain modeling non ideal flow in reactors.
6. Explain about plug flow in axial dispersion.
7. Discuss about complete mix reactors in series.
8. Explain about process selection in detail.
9. What are the factors that should be considered in planning pilot-plant studies for wastewater
treatment.
10. What are the reliability considerations in process selection.
UNIT III
CHEMICAL UNIT PROCESSES
PART A
1. Define Chemical Precipitation
Chemical precipitation, formation of a separable solid substance from a solution, either
by converting the substance into an insoluble form or by changing the composition of the solvent
to diminish the solubility of the substance in it. Chemical precipitation helps in removal of
phosphorus and suspended solids in primary sedimentation facilities used for physical-chemical
treatment. Also heavy metals removal.
2. What is chemical precipitation in WWT?

Chemical precipitation in water and wastewater treatment is the change in form of
materials dissolved in water into solid particles. Chemical precipitation is used to remove ionic
constituents from water by the addition of counter-ions to reduce their solubility.
3. What is Chemical water treatment?

The substances that are removed during the water treatment process are suspended solids,
viruses, fungi, bacteria, algae, and minerals. The process involves both physical
and chemical methods. The chemical used in this process are called water treatment chemicals.
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4. Why wastewater treatment is important?

The major aim of wastewater treatment is to remove as much of the suspended solids as
possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to the environment. As
solid material decays, it uses up oxygen, which is needed by the plants and animals living in the
water.
5. What is Chemical Oxidation?

Chemical oxidation is a process involving the transfer of electrons from
an oxidizing reagent to the chemical species being oxidized. In water and wastewater
engineering, chemical oxidation serves the purpose of converting putrescible pollutant substances
to innocuous or stabilized products. Chemical oxidation helps in removal of BOD, grease,
ammonia, etc., and in the destruction of microorganisms. They are also used for the control of
odors in sewers, pump stations and treatment plants.
6. Why wastewater treatment is important?

The major aim of wastewater treatment is to remove as much of the suspended solids as
possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to the environment. As
solid material decays, it uses up oxygen, which is needed by the plants and animals living in the
water.
7. What is meant by chemical coagulation?

That process includes coagulation, a step in which chemicals are added that cause small
particles suspended in the water to clump together. Chemicals (coagulants) are added to the water
to bring the nonsettling particles together into larger, heavier masses of solids called floc. The
chemical destabilization of particles in wastewater to bring about their aggregation during
perikinetic and orthokinetic flocculation.
8. What is meant by Perikinetic flocculation? (Microflocculation)

Microflocculation refers to flocculation (contact or collisions of colloidal particles) due to
Brownian motion of colloidal particles. The random motion of colloidal particles results from their
rapid and random bombardment by the molecules of the fluid.
9. What is meant by Orthokinetic flocculation? (Macroflocculation)

Macroflocculation refers to contacts or collisions of colloidal particles resulting from bulk
fluid motion, such as stirring.
10. Give some Examples for coagulants and flocculants

Natural and synthetic organic polymers, metal salts such as alum or ferric sulfate, and
prehydrolyzed metal salts such as polyaluminum chloride (PACl) and polyiron chloride (PICI).
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11. Define Coagulation.

Coagulation flocculation involves the addition of compounds that promote the clumping
of fines into larger floc so that they can be more easily separated from the water. Coagulation is a
chemical process that involves neutralization of charge whereas flocculation is a physical process
and does not involve neutralization of charge. The coagulation-flocculation process can be used as
a preliminary or intermediary step between other water or wastewater treatment processes
like filtration and sedimentation.
12. What is the mechanism of coagulation?

In a colloidal suspension, particles will settle very slowly or not at all because the colloidal
particles carry surface electrical charges that mutually repel each other. This surface charge is most
commonly evaluated in terms of zeta potential, the electrical potential at the slipping plane. To
induce coagulation, a coagulant (typically a metallic salt) with the opposite charge is added to the
water to overcome the repulsive charge and "destabilize" the suspension. For example, the
colloidal particles are negatively charged and alum is added as a coagulant to create positively
charged ions. Once the repulsive charges have been neutralized (since opposite charges
attract), van der Waals force will cause the particles to cling together (agglomerate) and form
micro floc
13. What are the characteristics of colloidal particles in wastewater?
 Particle size and number
 Particle shape and flexibility
 Surface properties including electrical characteristics
 Particle-particle interactions
 Particle-solvent interactions
14. What is the importance of chemical precipitation?
 As a means of improving the performance of primary settling facilities

 As a basic step in the independent physical-chemical treatment of wastewater
 For the removal of phosphorus and heavy metals.
15. What are the chemicals used in WWT?
 Alum,
 Aluminium chloride,
 Ferric chloride,
 Ferric sulfate,
 Ferrous sulfate,
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16. What is the importance alum?

When alum is added to wastewater containing calcium and magnesium bicarbonate
alkalinity, a precipitate of aluminium hydroxide will form. The insoluble aluminium hydroxide is
a gelatinous floc that settles slowly through the wastewater, sweeping out suspended material and
producing other changes.
17. What happens when alum is added to waste water? Give the reaction.
When alum is added to wastewater containing calcium and magnesium bicarbonates
alkalinity, the reaction that occurs may be illustrated as follows:
3Ca ( HCO3 ) 2  Al2 ( SO4 )3 .18 H 2O  2 Al (OH )3  3CaSO4

 6CO2  18 H 2O
18. What happens when lime is added to wastewater?

When lime alone is added as a precipitant, the principles of clarification are explained by
the following reactions:
H 2CO3  Ca (OH ) 2  CaCO 3  2 H 2O

3Ca ( HCO3 ) 2  Ca (OH ) 2  2CaCO 3  2 H 2O
19. What happens when ferrous sulphate is added to waste water?

When ferrous sulfate alone is added to a wastewater, the following reaction occur:
FeSO4 .7 H 2O  Ca ( HCO3 ) 2  Fe( HCO3 ) 2  CaSO4  7 H 2O

Fe( HCO3 ) 2  Fe(OH ) 2  CO2
Fe( HCO3 ) 2  2Ca (OH ) 2  Fe(OH ) 2  2CaCO3  2 H 2O
Fe(OH ) 2  1 / 2O2  1 / 2 H 2O  Fe(OH )3
20. What happens when ferric chloride is added to waste water?

Because of many problems associated with the use of ferrous sulfate, ferric chloride is the
iron salt used most commonly in precipitation applications.
FeCl3  3Ca ( HCO3 ) 2  Fe(OH )3  3CaCl 2  6CO2
FeCl3  3Ca (OH ) 2  2 Fe(OH )3  3CaCl 2
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PART B
1. What is the role of unit process in wastewater treatment?
2. Explain Chemical Coagulation in detail.
3. What is the role of chemical precipitation?
4. Discuss chemical oxidation in detail.
5. Discuss about Chemical Neutralization.
6. Explain about half reaction potential in detail.
7. What are the strategies for phosphorous removal?
8. Explain particle particle interaction in detail.
9. Discuss in detail about surface properties including electrical characteristics
10. Discuss about Scaling control and Stabilization.
UNIT IV
BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
1. Define Aerobic processes
Aerobic treatment is a biological process that uses oxygen to break down organic matter
and remove other pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus. It converts the organic matter into
carbon dioxide and new biomass.
2. Define Anaerobic processes

Anaerobic digestion is a collection of processes by which microorganisms break down
biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The process is used for industrial or domestic
purposes to manage waste or to produce fuels.
3. Define Anoxic processes (Denitrification)

Anoxic processes are typically used for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater.
The process of biological nitrogen removal is known as denitrification. Organisms in
this anoxic system use the nitrate as an electron acceptor and release nitrogen in the form of
nitrogen gas or nitrogen oxides.
4. Explain Suspended-growth processes

Biological treatment processes in which the microorganisms responsible for the conversion
of the organic matter or other constituents in the wastewater to gases and cell tissue are maintained
in suspension within the liquid.
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5. Explain Attached-growth processes

Wastewater treatment processes in which the microorganisms and bacteria treating the
wastes are attached to the media in the reactor. The wastes being treated flow over the media.
Trickling filters and rotating biological contactors are attached growth reactors. These reactors can
be used for BOD removal, nitrification, and denitrification. Biological treatment processes in
which the microorganisms responsible for the conversion of the organic matter to gasses and cell
tissue are attached to inert medium.
6. Define Nitrification.
Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrite followed by
the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate. The transformation of ammonia to nitrite is usually the rate
limiting step of nitrification. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in soil.
Nitrification is an aerobic process performed by small groups of autotrophic bacteria and archaea.
7. Define Denitrification
Denitrification is the last step in the nitrogen cycle where the reduction of soil nitrate to
nitrogen-containing gases, such as nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen gas, takes place.
Specifically, soil microbes utilize nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor to form nitrite in
a process called reduction.
8. Define Stabilization
The biological process by which the organic matter in the sludge produced from the
primary settling and biological treatment of wastewater is stabilized, usually by conversion to
gases and cell tissue.
9. What is the Role of Microorganisms in Wastewater Treatment

Microorganisms are used to oxidize the dissolved and particulate carbonaceous organic
matter into simple end products and additional biomass. The following equation represents the
aerobic biological oxidation of organic matter.
10. What are the different types of biological process.
 Suspended Growth Processes
 Attached Growth Processes
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11. Sketch ASP (Activated Sludge Process)
12. Explain Attached Growth Process.
The microorganisms responsible for the conversion of organic material or nutrients are
attached to an inert packing material. The organic material and nutrients are removed from the
wastewater flowing past the attached growth also known as a biofilm.
13. What is Chemoautotrophs?

Chemoautotrophs obtain energy from the oxidation of reduced inorganic compounds,
such as ammonia, nitrite, ferrous iron and sulfide.
14. What is Chemoheterotrophs?

Chemoheterotrophs are chemotrophs that are heterotrophic organisms. They are not
capable of fixing carbon to form their own organic compounds. Most chemoheterotrophs obtain
energy by ingesting organic molecules like glucose. In contrast, chemoautotrophs are autotrophs
that use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates.
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15. Sketch bacterial growth curve.
16. What is the importance of lag phase in bacterial growth curve?

Upon addition of the biomass, the lag phase represents the time required for the organisms
to acclimate to their new environment before significant cell division and biomass production
occur. During the lag phase enzyme induction may be occurring and the cells may be acclimating
to changes in salinity, PH, or temperature.
17. What is the importance of exponential growth phase in bacterial growth curve?
During the exponential growth phase, bacterial cells are multiplying at their maximum rate,
as there are no limitations due to substrate or nutrients. The biomass growth curve increases
exponentially during this period. With unlimited substrate and nutrients, the only factor the rate of
exponential growth is temperature.
18. Explain Stationary phase in bacterial growth curve.

During this phase, the biomass concentration remains relatively constant with time. In this
phase, bacterial growth is no longer exponential and the amount of growth is offset by the death
of cells.
19. Explain death phase in bacterial growth curve.

In the death phase, the substrate has been depleted so that no growth is occurring and the
change in biomass concentration is due to cell death.
20. Define biomass yield.

The ratio of the amount of bio-mass produced to the amount of substrate consumed is
defined as the biomass yield.
g biomass produced
Biomass Yield 
g substrate utilized
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PART B
1. Explain Activated Sludge process in detail.
2. Explain attached growth process in detail with a neat diagram.
3. Explain in detail about bacterial growth curve
4. Explain in detail about RBC (Rotating Biological Contractors)
5. Explain about treatment process and treatment functions in detail.
6. Discuss the role of microorganism in waste water treatment.
7. Briefly discuss about wastewater treatment plant.
8. Discuss about microbial metabolism
9. Discuss about nutrient requirements.
10. Discuss the current scenario of global waste water generation and suggest some measures for
treatment.
UNIT V
ADVANCED WASTE WATER TREATMENT
PART A
1. What is the need for AWWT?
Additional treatment required to remove suspended, colloidal and dissolved constituents
remaining after primary and secondary treatments.
 To remove organic matter and total suspended solids beyond what can be accomplished
by secondary treatment process.
 The need to remove residual total suspended solids to condition the treated waste water
for more effective disinfection
 To meet more stringent discharge and reuse requirement
2. What are the selection technology employed in AWWT?
 The nature of the residual compounds presents in the waste water.

 unit operations/processes involved decide the technology to be used for the system.
 The environmental and economic feasibility of the process
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3. Define Depth Filtration.

Depth filtration involves the removal of particulate materials suspended in liquid medium.
The liquid medium is passed through a filter bed comprised of granular or compressible filter
medium. It helps in the reduction of mass discharge of solids, and is a conditioning step that will
help in the disinfection of the effluent, this is also a pretreatment process for membrane filtration.
4. What is meant by surface filtration?

Surface Filtration implies that particles are retained mostly on the surface of the media,
forming a layer of material that increases the efficiency or fineness of particles retained. Surface
filtration is also defined as the removal of particulate material suspended in the liquid medium by
mechanical sieving by passing the liquid through a thin septum.
5. What are the various steps involved in the study of membrane filtration?
 membrane process terminology

 membrane process classification
 membrane materials
 driving force
6. What is advanced wastewater treatment?

Any process which reduces the level of impurities in a wastewater below that attainable
through conventional secondary or biological treatment. This Includes the removal of nutrients
such as phosphorus and nitrogen and a high percentage of suspended solids.
7. What is the difference between depth and membrane filtration?

A Depth Filter is a filter consisting of either multiple layers or a single layer of a medium
having depth, which captures contaminants within its structure, as opposed to on the surface.
A Membrane Filter typically traps contaminants larger than the pore size on the addressed surface
of the membrane.
8. Why membrane filtration is used?

Membrane filtration has a number of benefits over the existing water purification
techniques: It is a process that can take place while temperatures are low. This is mainly important
because it enables the treatment of heat-sensitive matter. That is why these applications are
widely used for food production.
9. What are membrane filters used for?

Membrane filters for microfiltration are used primarily for separating particulate materials
or micro-organisms, larger than the rated pore size, from gases or liquids. On filtration of gases
particles are also retained which are smaller than the pore size rated.
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10. What is a flux in membrane filtration?

Flux is the flow rate of water applied per unit area of the membrane and has units of
volume/unit area/time., J, which is the flow rate of filtrate. Filtrate is the water that has passed
through the membrane i.e., the water passing through the membrane, per unit area of membrane.
11. Explain membrane materials.

Membranes can be made from number of organic and in organic materials. but for waste
water treatment organic is always used. Polypropylene, cellulose, aromatic polyamides, thin film
composites(TFC).
12. What is meant by ion exchange?

Ion exchange is a unit process in which ions of a given species are displaced from an
insoluble exchange material by ions of different species in solution. Ion exchanges can be
unselective or have binding preferences for certain ions or classes of ions, depending on
their chemical structure. This can be dependent on the size of the ions, their charge, or their
structure.
13. What are the applications of ion exchange?
 For nitrogen control

 Removal of heavy metals
 Removal of total dissolved solids
14. Define AOP.

Advanced oxidation processes (AOP), in a broad sense, are a set of chemical treatment
procedures designed to remove organic (and sometimes inorganic) materials in water and
wastewater by oxidation through reactions with hydroxyl radicals. One such type of process is
called in situ chemical oxidation. AOP’s are used to oxidize complex organic substances found in
waste water that are difficult to degrade biologically into simpler end products.
15. Give the classification for ion exchange resin.
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16. Define Adhesion

Particles become attached to the surface of the filtering medium when they pass through.
Sometimes the force of the flowing water is too strong, the particles are carried away to deep inside
filter bed and it finally clogs the bed causing sudden appearance of turbidity in water.
17. Explain backwashing.
 When the headloss becomes very high, the filter medium begins to clog and filter
medium must be washed. This process is termed as backwash.
 This is accomplished by reversing the flow through the filter.
 A sufficient flow of back water is supplied until the granular medium is fluidized
causing the particles to abrade each other.
18. What are the steps that takes place during filtration?
The following steps take place during filtration
 STEP 1: The transport of the particles to the surface where they will be removed.
 STEP 2: The removal of particles by one or more of the following mechanisms.
a) Straining
b) Impaction
c) Interception
d) Adhesion
e) Sedimentation
f) Chemical or physical adsorption.
g) Biological growth
19. Explain filter medium characteristics.
 Grain size is the principle filter medium characteristic that affects filtration.
 If the filter medium is too small much of the driving force will be wasted in
overcoming the frictional resistance.
 If it’s too large many of the large particles in the influent will pass directly through
the bed.
 The optimum size is found using the size distribution curve, this is obtained using
the sieve analysis.
21
20. What are the physical features of depth filter?
 The filter medium is supported on a gravel layer, which in turn rests on an under drain
system.
 The water to be filtered enters through an inlet channel, and filtered water is collected
in a under drain system.
 The filtered water is disinfection, before sending into the atmosphere.
 The filtered water can also be reused.
PART B
1. Discuss in detail about depth filtration.
2. Explain Surface Filtration.
3. Briefly explain ion exchange.
4. Discuss in detail the application of ion exchange.
5. Discuss Advanced Oxidation Process.
6. Discuss about the Classification of technologies Removal of Colloids and suspended particles.
7. Discuss about particle removal mechanism in depth filtration
8. Discuss about membrane filtration
9. What is the chemistry behind ion exchange?
10. Explain filtration process in detail with a neat sketch.
22

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CH8004 Waste Water Treatment 2019-2020

2. What is the objective of Waste water management?

3. Define Unit Operation.

4. Define Unit Processes.

5. How Preliminary treatment of Wastewater is carried out?

6. How Secondary treatment of Wastewater is carried out?

7. How Tertiary treatment of Wastewater is carried out?

9. What are the treatment objectives for WWT?

10. What is clean water act?

11. What is Water Quality Act of 1987?

12. What are the physical characteristics of Waste water?

• Total solids (TS)

• Total volatile solids (TVS)

• Total fixed solids (TFS)

• Total suspended solids (TSS)

• Volatile suspended solids (VSS)

• Fixed suspended solids (FSS)

• Total dissolved solids (TDS)

• Settleable solids (SS)

• Particle size distibution (PSD)

13. What is turbidity?

14. What are the chemical characteristics of Waste water?

• Free ammonia (NH4+)

• Organic nitrogen (Org N)

• Total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN = Org N + NH4+)

• Total nitrogen (TN)

• Inorganic phosphorus (Inorg P)

• Total phosphorus (TP)

• Organic phosphorus (Org P)

15. Define absorption.

16. Define conductivity.

17. What is BOD?

19. Sketch microbial growth curve.

20. What are the limitations in the BOD test?

2. What are the characteristics of Wastewater flows?

1. Domestic (Sanitary) wastewater: discharged from residences, commercial,

3. Write notes on packed bed reactors.

4. Discuss about fluidized bed reactors.

5. What are the steps involved in preparation of mass balance analysis?

6. Sketch the hourly variations in domestic wastewater flowrates.

7. Define Sustained Peak factor.

Sustained peaking factor, PF =

 Complete – mix reactors

 Plug – flow reactors

 Complete – mix reactors in series

 Packed – bed reactors

 Fluidized bed reactors

9. What are the factors influencing the selection?

 Nature of the reaction

 Reaction kinetics governing the treatment process

 Process performance requirements, and

 Local environmental conditions.

10. What is the principle of mass balance.

11. What is process selection?

12. What are the assumptions of mass balance analysis?

13. What are the importance factors in process selection?

 Applicable flow range

 Applicable flow variation

 Influent wastewater characteristics

 Inhibiting & unaffected constituents

 Process sizing based on reaction kinetics or process loading criteria

 Process sizing based on mass transfer rates or process loading criteria.

14. What is inherent reliability?