NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science – Fundamental and Sustainability Concepts
Assignment- 10
TYPE OF QUESTION: MCQ/MSQ
Number of questions: 15 Total Marks 15 x 2 = 30
QUESTION 1:
1. Which of the following is NOT a basic method of dealing with solid waste?
a) Dumping
b) Incineration
c) Recycling
d) Electrolysis
Correct Answer: d
Detailed Solution:
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QUESTION 2:
3. The "3Rs" of waste management stand for:
a) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
b) Reduce, Reclaim, Recycle
c) Recover, Reuse, Remediate
d) Restore, Recycle, Rebuild
Correct Answer: a
Detailed Solution:
The 3rd R stands for Recycle
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NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
QUESTION 3:
Which of the following waste management strategies is most effective in reducing waste at the source?
a) Incineration
b) Recycling
c) Waste minimization
d) Landfilling
Correct Answer: c
Detailed Solution:
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QUESTION 4:
5. What is the primary reason for methane emissions in landfills?
a) Combustion of organic waste
b) Anaerobic decomposition of biodegradable waste
c) Chemical reactions between metals and plastics
d) Evaporation of leachate
Correct Answer: b
Detailed Solution:
NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
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QUESTION 5:
What is the most dominant component in municipal solid waste (MSW) worldwide?
a) Glass
b) Organic waste
c) Plastics
d) Metals
Correct Answer: b
Detailed Solution:
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QUESTION 6:
The volatile matter of solid waste is determined by heating the sample at:
a) 575°C
b) 950°C
c) 1200°C
d) 1600°C
Correct Answer: b
Detailed Solution:
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NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
QUESTION 7:
A landfill has a capacity of 200,000 tons and receives 6000 tons of waste per year. Calculate how
many years it will take to fill the landfill.
a) 45
b) 35
c) 55
d) 65
Correct Answer: b
Detailed Solution:
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 2100000
No of years to reach the full capacity = = = 35
𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 6000
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QUESTION 8:
Composting of organic waste can produce biogas, which is primarily methane. If 1000 tons of organic
waste are composted and 60% of it can be converted into methane, calculate the potential energy recovery
assuming methane has an energy content of 55 MJ/kg.
a) 33 * 106 MJ
b) 35 * 106 MJ
c) 55 * 106 MJ
d) 65 * 106 MJ
Correct Answer: a
Detailed Solution:
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑂𝑊 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑒 ∗ 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑒
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 = 1000 ∗ 1000 ∗ 0.6 ∗ 55 = 33000000 𝑀𝐽
_________________________________________________________________________
NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
QUESTION 9:
A waste-to-energy plant processes 3,000 tonnes of MSW daily and operates 330 days a year. Assume:
Net calorific value of waste = 12 MJ/kg.
Plant efficiency = 30%.
Energy conversion factor = 1 MJ = 0.2778 kWh; Calculate the total energy output?
a) 99 * 107 kWh
b) 95 * 107 kWh
c) 105 * 107 kWh
d) 97 * 107 kWh
Correct Answer: a
Detailed Solution:
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 = 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 ∗ 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 ∗ 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 = 0.3 ∗ 3000 ∗ 1000 ∗ 330 ∗ 12 ∗ 0.2778 𝑘𝑊ℎ = 990079200 𝑘𝑊ℎ
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QUESTION 10:
A city generates plastic waste at a rate of 10,000 tonnes annually, which is managed as follows:
Recycling: 60%
Incineration (with energy recovery): 40%
Assume:
Energy content of plastic waste = 40 MJ/kg.
Recycling saves $100/tonne in raw material costs.
Incineration efficiency = 35%.
Calculate the energy recovered from incineration annually in kWh
a) 15.6 * 106 kWh
b) 16.5 * 106 kWh
c) 17.5 * 106 kWh
d) 18.5 * 106 kWh
Correct Answer: a
NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Detailed Solution:
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 10000 ∗ 1000 ∗ 0.4 ∗ 0.35 ∗ 40 ∗ 0.2778
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 = 15556800 𝑘𝑊ℎ
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QUESTION 11:
A landfill has a surface area of 15 hectares and receives an annual rainfall of 1200 mm. 60% of rainfall
percolates through the waste and contributes to leachate formation. Estimate the annual leachate volume
generated.
a) 10200 m3
b) 9200 m3
c) 8200 m3
d) 7200 m3
Correct Answer: d
Detailed Solution:
𝑉 = 𝐴 ∗ 𝑃 ∗ 𝐶 = 15 ∗ 10000 ∗ 1.2 ∗ 0.6 = 7200 𝑚3
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QUESTION 12:
17. The optimal Carbon-to-Nitrogen (C:N) ratio for composting is:
a) 10:1
b) 20:1
c) 30:1
d) 50:1
Correct Answer: b
Detailed Solution:
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NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
QUESTION 13:
What is the purpose of a landfill liner system?
a) To accelerate decomposition of waste
b) To prevent leachate from contaminating groundwater
c) To allow methane gas to escape freely
d) To absorb CO₂ emissions
Correct Answer: b
Detailed Solution:
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QUESTION 14:
If the wet weight of a solid waste sample is 100 kg and the dry weight is 80 kg, what is the moisture
content on dry weight basis?
a) 20%
b) 25%
c) 30%
d) 40%
Correct Answer: b
Detailed Solution:
100 − 80
𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 = = 25
80
_______________________________________________________________________
NPTEL Online Certification Courses
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
QUESTION 15:
The term "Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM)" includes all of the following EXCEPT:
a) Waste collection
b) Energy production
c) Open dumping
d) Composting
Correct Answer: c
Detailed Solution:
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