ChEA 2203 Group 1 Midterm Exam

Name: Royce Matthew O. Castro Course & Yr.: BS-ChE-2 Date: March 26, 2020

I. Identification (Write on the blank the Standard Methods for the water/wastewater analysis of the
following):
1. BOD5 Winkler method
2. Chloride titration of water using AgNO3
3. Phosphate Colourimetric Determination of Phosphate
4. Chlorine Residual color comparator test kit or spectrophotometer
5. Sulfate ion chromatography with chemical suppression of eluent conductivity
6. Nitrate-Nitrogen Single-column ion chromatography with direct conductivity detection
7. CHCl3 Purge and Trap Capillary-Column Gas Chromatographic or Mass
Spectrometric Method
8. Carbofuran High performance liquid chromatographic method
9. Pendimethalin liquid-solid extraction and capillary column gas or mass spectrometry
10. Styrene Purge and Trap Capillary-Column Gas Chromatographic or Mass
Spectrometric Method

II. Describe briefly the mechanism involved in the water/wastewater treatment and the technology of
the process/operation listed below (You may have the option of drawing a diagram to aid
explanation):

1. COAGULATION
- Coagulation is a type of technology that involves adding salts into water in order for the
dissolved and other components to coagulate or form slid particles. When these solids have
coagulated, it is followed by flocculation which is when the solid particles adhere together to
become larger particles. Then the last step of the process is sedimentation, in which the
flocculated particles settle at the bottom of the container so that the water is ready for easy
filtration.

2. UASB
- The Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket or UASB is a type of technology that is used typically for
dilute wastewater systems. It involves having wastewater flow upwards in a chamber through
the ‘sludge blanket’, which is then processed and decomposed by anaerobic microorganisms.

3. ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS

- This technology, in contrast to UASB, utilizes aerobic microorganisms to process the organic
waste and matter in the wastewater, and these organic microorganisms flocculate which ends
up producing a product of water that has low (or zero) suspended solids, and solid particles that
easily undergo sedimentation.

4. RBC
- Rotating biological contactor, which is also known as rotating biological filters, utilize a rotating
disc that is partially submerged in the wastewater (about 40% of the surface area of the disc).
The disc rotates in order for aerobic microorganisms to increase their population on the disc;
 these microorganisms will then form a layer of biomass which then processes and/or
decomposes the organic matter in the wastewater.

5. FACULTATIVE LAGOON
- Facultative lagoons are used for wastewater treatment through naturally occurring processes.
From the word ‘facultative’, this type of pond utilizes facultative microorganisms (can survive
with or without air), and both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms (usually bacteria, though
algae can be used too). The wastewater is put into these lagoons for extended periods of time
and is exposed to the microorganisms and other natural processes so that the organic matter in
the wastewater can be decomposed and processed. This method is costly in terms of space,
though it is highly accurate in lowering the overall BOD.
III. Situational Analysis
1. In a local barangay, a group of youngsters after playing basketball went to a store to buy cold water
from Piso-Hulog vending equipment. An hour after, 80% of these youngsters were experiencing
severe abdominal pain and rushing to toilets for loss bowel movement (LBM). What would be your
initial response if you have observed this situation? Are water vending machines covered in the
PNSDW Standards? To whom you should be coordinating first? If water analysis is imperative, how
would you employ water sampling and what parameters should be sought for analysis in an
accredited water laboratory?

- My initial response would honestly be to monitor and investigate the source of the
contamination – which in this case is most likely to be from the piso-hulog itself. There may have
been poor sanitation and maintenance of this vending machine, which would end up in the
accumulation of biological pollutants, particularly bacteria that thrive in water. Ingesting these
bacteria can cause LMB and abdominal pain. Technically, piso-hulog would be under the PNSDW
because they’re supposed to be providing drinking water for the people. In my opinion, maybe it
would be best to coordinate with a sanitation officer or a health inspector first to investigate
and give professional input on the situation. The water in the dispenser should be most likely
tested for presence of bacteria by water treatment labs in order to find out the relative
concentration of certain kinds of bacteria. For safety measures, the source of the water in the
vending machine should also be sampled and tested for presence of bacteria just to make sure.

2. The National Sewerage and Septage Management Program (NSSMP) will soon be implemented by
the government and one of its drives is to clean up household septic tank in a period of 3-5 years.
Your house had a septic tank that was never been cleaned up by haulers in 20 years. When you
asked your parents, you discovered that the septic tank’s design was bottomless or unsealed. Do
you know the consequences of this design? What will you do?

- One of the biggest consequences of this is that the septic tank’s contents would leak into the
ground and could contaminate the soil below and around it. Not only that, but the contents
could seep in to other plumbing systems and cause contamination in them, especially for
systems designed for water distribution, leading to threats to the health of people. I will
immediately demand for my parents to alter the design of our septic tank and have it cleaned as
well due to the several sanitary and ecological issues that it causes. Perhaps it would also be god
to contact the NSSMP as well so they can aid us in carefully dealing with the situation in order to
prevent any more harm.
IV. Picture Analysis (Provide a concise essay on a premise you wanted to promote in order to resolve
issue/s presented).

Plastic pollution in the water has been such a big problem that only seems to be worsening as
the years go by. On the biological aspect, plastics can be mistaken as prey for marine predators and it
ends up getting eaten, which in turn causes eventual death to the organism. In the chemical aspect,
plastics sometime leaks toxic compounds into the water causing harm to human health. What I
personally would like to advocate in order to counteract this issue is to make it a law to have the country
phase away from the use of single-use plastics. Single-use plastics in my opinion cause to many
environmental issues at this point for us to keep using it. I think that there should more encouragement
efforts from bigger companies for people to utilize eco-bags and zero-plastic methods to contain the
products that they buy. For example, there is are certain companies in Cebu that incentivizes their
clients to recycle used jars so they can contain their shampoos, soaps, food products, and other things in
order to reduce plastic waste.