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The University of Nottingham

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

A LEVEL 3 MODULE, AUTUMN SEMESTER 2015-2016

WATER TREATMENT

Time allowed ONE Hour and THIRTY Minutes.

Candidates may complete the front cover of their answer book and sign their desk card but
must NOT write anything else until the start of the examination period is announced

Answer THREE questions including

ONE question from SECTION A and ALL questions from Section B

Only silent, self contained calculators with a Single-Line Display or Dual-Line Display are
permitted in this examination.

Dictionaries are not allowed with one exception. Those whose first language is not English
may use a standard translation dictionary to translate between that language and English
provided that neither language is the subject of this examination. Subject specific translation
dictionaries are not permitted.

No electronic devices capable of storing and retrieving text, including electronic dictionaries,
may be used.

DO NOT turn examination paper over until instructed to do so

In this examination candidates are required to answer ONE out of two questions in
Section A and ALL questions in Section B. If a candidate answers more than the
required number of questions, all questions will be marked and the highest marks
will be used in the final examination mark.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: None

INFORMATION FOR INVIGILATORS:

Question papers should be collected in at the end of the exam – do not allow candidates to
take copies from the exam room.

Turn Over
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SECTION A

Answer ONE question from this Section

1. (a) i) Define the terms, coagulation and flocculation. [2,2]

ii) Discuss the process performance considerations for coagulation and

flocculation including identification of the critical factors. [2,2]

(b) i) Identify and briefly explain three methods of mixing to promote

coagulation. [2,2,2]

ii) Determine, with justification the most appropriate mixing method to

promote coagulation in practice. [3]

(c) Identify a coagulant aid and define the mechanisms of action that divide
coagulant aids into two classes. [3]

2. (a) A rural community has used an unchlorinated groundwater supply containing

approximately 0.3 mg L-1 of iron and manganese for several years without any
apparent problems. A health official suggested that the community install
chlorination equipment to disinfect the water. After initiating chlorination,
consumers complained about the water staining their washed clothes and
bathroom fixtures. Explain why the health official suggested chlorination to this
community and examine what is occurring due to the chlorination. [7]

(b) i) Chlorine can be added to the water in several ways, such as in the form of
Cl2. Define what is happening when Cl2 is added to water. [4]

ii) Examine the influence that pH has on the free (available) chlorine and
utilise this information to justify an appropriate pH. [6]

(c) Chlorine may also be added to water in the form of hypochlorite salts. From a
safety perspective, justify why adding as a hypochlorite salt may be considered
more favourable to using Cl2. [3]

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SECTION B

Answer ALL questions in this Section

3. A plug flow treatment reactor (PFR) is to be designed for a raw influent municipal
wastewater containing 225 mg L-1 of carbonaceous oxygen demanding material
(BOD). The influent rate is 410 L min-1. The organic matter is oxidised at the rate of
1.0 day-1 (pseudo first-order rate constant).

(a) The reactor is a rectangular tank 6.5 m wide and 2 m depth. Determine the
minimum length of the rectangular tank required to achieve an effluent
concentration of 40 mg L-1 [6]

(b) Analysis of the wastewater to the PFR has identified that the BOD value varies,
with a recent measurement of 283 mg L-1. Given this higher BOD value,
determine the maximum treatment flow rate in m3 day-1 that this reactor could
deal with without affecting the effluent concentration. [5]

(c) i) Describe the reasons as to why the BOD of an influent wastewater may
vary. [7]

ii) Explain whether the BOD measurements of 225 mg L-1 and 283 mg L-1 are
typical for a wastewater entering a municipal treatment process. [2]

4. (a) Reactors may be considered ideal or non-ideal. Explain these two terms and
propose, with justification which is more likely in water treatment practice. [10]

(b) Reactions in water treatment are assumed to obey first order reaction kinetics,
which approximate to pseudo first order kinetics. Analyse why this is the case. [6]

(c) Control of contractors is one of five principle maintenance hazards in municipal

water treatment. Demonstrate your understanding of what is meant by control
of contractors. [4]

END

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