1. Sewage-treatment plant, a large concrete tank initially contains 440,000 liters liquid and 10,000 kg fine suspended solids. To flush this material out of the tank, water is pumped into the vessel at a rate of 40,000 liter/h. Liquid containing solids leaves at the same rate. Estimate the concentration of suspended solids in the tank at the end of 5 h.

Concentration = 10.33 kg/m³

Explanation:

We are given;

Mass of solids; 10,000 kg

Volume; V = 440,000 L = 440 m³

Rate at which water is pumped out = 40,000 liter/h

Thus, at the end of 5 hours we amount of water that has been replaced with fresh water is = 40,000 liter/h x 5 hours = 200,000 L = 200 m³

Now, since the tank is perfectly mixed, therefore we can calculate a ratio of fresh water to sewage water as;

200m³/440m³ = 5/11

Thus, the amount left will be calculated by multiplying that ratio by the amount of solids;

Thus,

Amount left; = 10000 x (5/11) = 4545 kg

The concentration would be calculated by:

Concentration = amount left/initial volume

Thus,

Concentration = 4545/440 = 10.3 kg/m³