Environmental Engineering CEE3330-01

The 2nd Examination

May 22, 2012

Name: __________________________

Student I.D.: ________________________

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Problem 1: If the statement is true, put a circle (O) in ( ). If the statement is
false, put a cross (X) in it. (3 point each; 30 points in total)

(1) Acid-base reactions occur via proton transfer while oxidation-reduction reactions
occur via electron transfer. ( )

(2) Salts are dissolved in water since water (H2O) is a non-polar solvent with a
symmetric chemical structure. ( )

(3) A greater KOW (octanol-water partitioning coefficient) indicates a higher degree of

hydrophobicity. ( )

(4) A Henry’s constant is a partitioning coefficient describing the distribution of a

compound between water phase and air phase. ( )

(5) When a linear sorption isotherm for a hydrophobic solute is observed, there may be a
high content of organic phase in the sorbent. ( )

(6) Interfacial tension is motivated by sorbents. ( )

(7) Langmuir model is good to describe a reversible adsorption of a solute onto the
homogenous surface of a sorbent. ( )

(8) Because dissolution of oxygen in water is an exothermic reaction, the aqueous

concentration of oxygen becomes decreased as temperature increases. ( )

(9) Equilibrium constants such as acid dissociation constant (KA), partitioning coefficient
(KP), Henry’s constant (KH), sorption coefficients (for example, KD, KF, 1/n) vary in
response to temperature and depending upon which chemical structure a solute has.

(10) After pure water was exposed to air for a long time, pH is 7. ( ).

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Problem 2: Provide your answer with its brief explanation. (10 points)

Given) In Langmuir model, there are two model parameters; Qo is the maximum
sorption capacity and KL is the half-saturation constant. According to isotherm
experiments with two sorbents respectively, the first sorbent shows higher Qo and KL
values than the second sorbent does.

Question) Which sorbent will be more effective in sorption of a target solute at low
concentration? (5 points) Which sorbent will be more effective in sorption of the
same solute at high concentration? (5 points) Please do not forget providing the
explanations for your answers.

Answer and Explanation)

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Problem 3: (30 points)

Situation: A completely sealed (closed) vessel is filled with 1 L pure water. The temperature
is always 25oC. Ammonia (NH3) was injected into the vessel, and the equilibrium pH is 9.

NH4+ = NH3 + H+, pKA = 9.23

Kw = 10-14 M2

(1) How much of ammonia (in mole unit) was initially injected into the vessel? (15 points)
Answer)

(2) To adjust pH into 7, HCl will be used. The pKA value for HCl is -3.0. What much of HCl
is required to neutralize the ammonia-added water in the (1)?(15 points)
Answer)

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Problem 4: (30 points)
Situation: 0.001 mole of toluene was accidently spilled in a closed tank (see the following
figure). The volume of the tank is 70L. The tank contains the multi-phases of air (20 L),
water (50L), and fish (1L). In the fish body, 0.1% (volumetric fraction) is fat.

CFAT: Concentration of toluene in the fish fat (mole/L)

Kp: Coefficient of partitioning of toluene between fish fat and water = CFAT/CW

Assumptions:
Ø Between air and water phases, the distribution of toluene is governed by Henry's law
(Note: KHo = CG/CW = 0.282).
Ø Toluene is partitioned only into the fat phase of the fish but is not sorbed onto or into
other parts of the fish body. (Note: The partitioning coefficient for toluene Kp =
CFAT/CW = 10,000).
Ø The total amount of toluene in the system does not vary (toluene amount is
conserved).
Ø Equilibrium

(1) At equilibrium, write an equation that describes the material (toluene) balance in the
multi-phasic environment. (10 points)
Answer)

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(2) At equilibrium, calculate CW (the toluene concentration in water phase) and CFAT (the
toluene concentration in fish fat). (15 points)

Answer)

(3) To save fish, the level of CFAT in fish fat has to be reduced into 10-3 mole/L. For this
purpose, Yonsei University engineering students decided to use a specific activated carbon
showing a linear sorption isotherm with a distribution coefficient (KD) of 100,000 L/g. To
achieve the goal, how much of the activated carbon (in grams) has to be added into the tank?
(Note: ignore the volume of added activated carbon). (15 points)

Answer)

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