ENVE 404
2024 – 2025 Fall
Homework 5
Due Date: 25/12/2024
Question 1 (50 points): Years of excessive use of fertilizers had changed the soil characteristics
in an area where farming was the primary source of income. Due to a pH imbalance, the soil
has turned acidic, affecting its natural characteristics. A specific chemical contamination of
2000 milligrams per kilogram of dry soil, caused by excessive fertilizer use, was found during
tests on a single area that was severely impacted. A slurry reactor was selected for an experiment
to model the treatment method to remove the contaminants. To create a slurry, four kilograms
of soil were gathered and mixed with water. In order to guarantee enough contact between the
contaminated soil and the water phase, the reactor setup was made to maintain a solid
concentration of 12 kg of soil per cubic meter of slurry. Important details on the behavior of the
chemical were revealed by laboratory results. It was categorized as a biodegradable, non-
volatile pollutant. The fertilizer’s distribution between the soil particles and the water was
shown by the soil-water partition coefficient, which is found to be 0.42 m3/kg. Moreover, the
biodegradation rate constant of that chemical is 0.2 day-1, and the density of the soil is 2600
kg/m3, according to the literature. Please note that this lab scale test is operated under
equilibrium conditions.
a. Write the final form of the governing differential equation describing the concentration
in the liquid phase, with respect to time. Hint: Start from writing the total mass balance
equation.
b. Solve the governing equation in part-a analytically for liquid phase concentration as a
function of time.
c. Plot a graph in Excel the concentration of the chemical in liquid phase vs time. Submit
the Excel file as well.
d. It is known that a concentration of 50 mg/kg dry soil is sufficient for soil remediation.
Considering that the reactor is expected to operate for 100 days, will this duration be
enough to reduce the concentration to the required limit? If not, determine the minimum
time needed to remediate the soil (Note: Please use hand calculation.).
Question 2 (50 points): A recently constructed landfill located in a coastal region is designed
to handle solid waste generated by nearby urban centers. Due to the humid climate, significant
rainfall infiltrates through the landfill, forming leachate that may percolates into the soil below.
Among the key concerns is the leaching of chloride (Cl-) from the waste into the surrounding
environment, which could impact the salinity of the nearby soil and groundwater resources. The
landfill slot has a volume of 15,000 m³, and receives a steady infiltration of rainwater at a rate
of 2.5 m³/day. The landfill has a field capacity for water content of 0.45. Sodium chloride
dissolves from the solid waste into water with a reaction rate of r = 1 g/L per day. Initially,
before rainfall infiltration begins, the concentration of sodium chloride in the pore water within
the landfill is 5000 mg/L.
a) You are asked to
i) develop the appropriate model for leachate chloride (Cl-), and
ii) derive analytical solution.
b) Calculate the steady-state concentration of chloride in the leachate.
c) If the chloride concentration of the leachate is measured to be 3000 mg/L, determine how
long this slot has been in operation. Additionally, calculate the total volume of leachate
generated during this time period.