NUMERICALS FOR PRACTISE
1. Using the moisture contents (wet basis) of the waste components given in Table
P2-14, calculate the overall moisture content of the waste having the composition
also shown. This calculation can be simplified by assuming 100 kg of waste.
Component Moisture content, percent (wet basis) Percent by weight
Food 70 10
Paper 6 33
Cardboard 5 8
Plastic 2 5
Textile 10 4
Rubber 2 3
Yard waste 60 18
Metals 3 10
Miscellaneous 6 9
2. Imagine a town where 10,000 households each fill one 300-L container of refuse
per week. What volume would this refuse occupy in a landfill? Assume that 10%
of the volume is occupied by the cover dirt.
Ans: T = 555.56 m3
3. A residential waste has the following components:
Paper 50%
Glass 20%
Food 20%
Yard 10%
waste
: 24%
4. A sample of refuse is analyzed and found to contain 10% water (measured as
weight loss on evaporation). The heat value of the entire mixture is measured in
a calorimeter and is found to be 8000 kJ/kg. A 1.0 g sample is placed in the
calorimeter, and 0.2 g ash remains in the sample cup after combustion. What is
the comparable, moisture-free heat value and the moisture- and ash-free heat
value?
Ans: 8888 / ; 11,428 /
5. Using the energy content (wet basis) of the waste components given in the Table
P2-17, calculate the overall energy content of the waste having the composition
shown. This calculation can be simplified by assuming 100 kg of waste.
Component Energy, kJ/kg Percent by weight
Food 4,640 10
Paper 16,704 33
Cardboard 16,204 8
Plastic 32,480 5
Textile 17,400 3
Rubber 23,200 4
Yard waste 6,496 18
Metals 696 10
Miscellaneous 6,960 9
6. A family of four people generates solid waste at a rate of 1 kg/cap/day and the
bulk density of refuse in a typical garbage can is about 120 kg/m 3. If the
collection is once a week, how many 120-L garbage cans will they need, or the
alternative, how many compacted 10-kg blocks would the family produce if they
had a home compactor? How many cans would they in that case?
7. Determine the average density, composition and moisture content of the
municipal solid waste for a typical Indian city. What is bulk density of the waste
mixture prior to compaction? Assume that the compaction in the cell is 600
kg/m3.
8. Calculate the dry composition, average moisture content and average density of
the MSW with the given data. Also find out which component has the greatest
impact on the volume of the waste and moisture content. How does the volume
composition differ from the waste composition by weight?
9. Determine the chemical composition of the organic fraction of the waste
described below, with and without water.
Ans: Therefore, the chemical formula for this particular solid waste sample is C 654.95 H
1036.84 O 411.89 N 11.06 S without water & C 654.95 H 1720.80 O 753.82 N 11.06 S with water.
10. A 15 g sample of mixed MSW is combusted in a calorimeter having a heat
capacity of 8750 cal/oC. The temperature increase on combustion is 2.75 oC.
Calculate the heat value of the sample.
Ans: 1604.2 /
11. The chemical formula for a waste mixture analyzed is C 654.95 H 1036.84 O 411.89 N
11.06 S. Determine the energy content using modified Dulong formula.
Ans: 18230.61 / g