Municipal Solid Waste

Management

Cerst m
Composition of a certain MSW sample and CorpCrert
are
a1 The weights of its various components
specific
givenbelow
desity
Assuming (c, + c,)= 100 he cormocste
Component
Percent by Specific weight of the solid waste (p) sgiven b
weight (kg/m)
100
50 300 a
|Food 500
30
DirtandAsh
10 65
Plastics
10 125
waste
Wood and Yard
(b)

Specific weight (kg/m³) of the MSW sample is (c) 100 (C.p, + P

(a) 319 (b) 217
(d) 199[2006 : 2 M] (a) 100 [2015 : 1 MSe-)
(c) 209 Cp+C02
g of CO, and 25 g of CH, are produced from
92 50 (MSW) amunicica soic WESTe saCe
thedecomposition of municipalsolid waste 9.6 The compcsiton of
What is the average
with aforrmulaweight of 120 g.production in a city of Sgven beiow:
per capita green house gas production rate of
MSW
1million people with a
LCistre
Percet
Component by Mass cortert a
500 ton/day?
(b) 120 g/day 70
51
(a) 104 g/day Focd waste 20
(d) 313 g/day
(c) 208 g/day [2007 :2 M] Paper
Carcboard
municipal solid wast 10
S3 A coastal city produces content, high organic
Plastcs
Garden timTigs 40
(MSW) with high moisture
and lowinorganic 5
materials, low calorific value Wood
and sustainable 5
materials. The most effective
TnCars
in that city is Te
option for MSW managemnent The dfference
between e enercraiert
(a) Composting (b) Dumping in sea caculatec on or Cass
arc s
(2010: 1M] waste sampe
(c) Incineration (d) Landfill wCuc te
Ciscarded basis (inkg) (2017:2 M Set-tI
population
|94 Alandfill is to be designed to seve a solid waste
The
of 200000 for a periodof 25 years. vehicies oceratng nacir
kg/person/day. The density 97 There are 20.000 tave of 1200 ee c e
(SW) generation is 2 100 kg/m² and of
a
an average anua ece
of the un-compacted SW is ratio rate s 20gk per
Suggested. The The NO.emission
Cormpaction ratio of 4 is Compacted annuarelease of NO ilCe
Thetotal
SW + Cover) to million m) (b 4800g
compacted fill (i.e. (in (a) 480.000 kg
SW is 1.5. The landfill volume (c) 480 kg
(c 48 kg
required is [2015:2 M, Set-lI]
OfUca sic
industry contains generates 40x 10 * 1s
8 Acty (MSW)pervear Qut ct s
Solid waste generated from an shownin the waste .
Xand Yas and erest gres
only two components, recovered recycled
table below:
490 |
The landfill has a GATE Previous Years Solved
Papers: CE | MADE E
compacted to a single of
lift of 3 m 9 . 1I
6 n
a

the landfill is density 550 ka/m³. heightIf and is conversion of Carbon to

CO,, Hydrogen to con
80% of
area (in m², upassumed
to one
to be MSW,
the landfill Sulphur to SO, and Nitrogen to NO,.
Given Atomic weights: H= 1, C= H,o. glas

WOuld be decimal place) required O = 16, S = 32. 12, N =14,

resp
ofp
The stoichiometric
9.9 Awaste [2018: 1 M, Set-l) (theoretical) amount of air
tonnes/d, round off to the nearesti
four

activated sludae (WNAS) is to be for complete burning of this waste,integer)

Wh
with green waste The carbon blended
is )required
nitrogen (N) contents,(GW).
(a)
(C) and
dry basis are given in per ka of WAS and GVWon 9.13 Which one of the following
[2020 :2 M,Set-l1 (b)
the table. statements is correcn (c)
(a) Combustion is an exothermic process, which (d)
Parameter WAS GW
Carbon (g) 54
takes place in the absence of oxygen
360
(b) Pyrolysis is an
Nitrogen (9) 10 6 exothermic process, which 9.17 A
takes place in the absence of oxygen.
The ratio of WAS to GW (c) Pyrolysis is an endothermic
to
required
(up to two prOcess,which W
decimalplaces) to achieved a blended C:N ratio takes place in the absence of oxygen.
of 20:1 on dry basis is (d) Combustion is an endothermic
process, which
[2018 : 2 M, Set-I] takes place in the abundance of Oxygen.
9.10 A coal containing 2% sulfur is burned completely [2021 :1 M, Set-1]
to ash in a brick kiln at a rate of 30 kg/min. The
9.14 Determine the correctness or otherwise of the
sulfur content in the ash was found to be 6% of
the initial amount of sulfur present in the coal fed
following Assertion [A]and the Reason [R..
to the brick kiln. The molecular weights of S, H
Assertion [A]: ne of the best ways to reduce 9.18 \
the amount of solid wastes is to reduce the
and Oare 32, 1and 16 g/mole, respectively. The
annual rate of sulfur dioxide (SO,) emission from consumption of raw materials,
the kiln (in tonnes/lyear, up to two decimal places) Reason [R]: Solid wastes are seldom generated
is when raw materials are converted to gods for
[2018 :2 M, Set-II] consumption.
9.11 Raw municipal solid waste (MSW) collected from (a) Both [A]and [R] are true and (R] is the correct
reason for [A].
acity contains 70% decomposable material that
can be converted to methane. The water content (b) Both [A] and [R] are false.
of the decomposable material is 35%. An (c) [A] is true but [R] is false.
elemental analysis of the decomposable material (d) Both [A]and (R] are true but [R] is not the
yields the following mass percent. Correct reason for [A] 9.19
C:H:O:N: other = 44 : 6: 43 : 0.8:6.2 [2021: 1 M, Set-ll]
The methane production of the decomposable
9.15 To design an optimum municipal solid waste
material is governed by the following collection route, which of the following is/are NOT
stoichiometric relation desired:
CH,ON + nH,0 ’ mCH, + sCO, + dNH, (a) Waste collection on congested roads, shoulu
Given atomic weights: C= 12, H = 1, 0 = 16, not occur during rush hours in morning of
N= 14. The mass of methane produced (in evening,
grams, round off to 1decimal place) per kg of (b) The last collection pointon a route should be
raw MSW will be as close as possible to the waste dispos
[2019 : 2 M, Set-l1] facility.
9.12 A waste to energy plant burns dry solid waste of (c) Collection should occur in the uphill direction.
composition : Carbon = 35%, Oxygen = 26%, (d) Collection vehicle should not traveltwice dOw
Hvdrogen =10%, Sulphur = 6%, Nitrogen = 3, the same street in a day.
andInerts =20%o. Burning rate is 1000 tonnesld [2022: 1 M,Set-lI)
Oxyaen in air byweight is 23%. Assume complete
 ERSY Environmental Engineering | 491

handBing facility, the moisture

waste 9.20 n tho context of Municipal Solid Wasta
focod waste, paper waste, and Management, Haul'inHauled Container Syitem
ontents(MO) of
found to tbe MCI.MCp, and MCo, operated in convontionat mode' inclkudes the
respectively. Similarly, the energy contents
(EC)
ofplastiWaste, fod waste, and glass waste were (a) time Bpent by the transport truck at the
tound to be ECpp.
ECt, and ECg. tespectively. disposal sito
corect?
staterments) is/are
which of the tollowing (b) time spent by the transport truck in traveling
MCg betweonapickup pointand the disposal site
ia) MCf < MCp <
ECg
(b) ECpp< ECi < with a loaded container
ECg
(c) ECpp > ECt > (c) time spent by the transport truck in picking
(d) MCt > MCp > MCg up aloaded container at a pickup point
[2022:2 M, Set-ll] (d) time spent by the transport truck in driving
R17 At a nmunicipal waste handling facility, 30metric from the depot to the first pickup point
ton mixture of food waste, yard waste, and paper [2023 : 1 M, Set-]
waste was available. The moisture content of this
mixture was found to be 10%. The ideal moisture 9.21 The following tablo givosvarious components of
content for composting this mìxture is 50%, The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and a list of
amount of water to be added to this mixture to treatmont/separationtechnicques.
bring its moisture content to the ideal condition is Componont of MSW
metric ton, (in integer) P Forrous metals
[2022: 2 M, Set-I) Q Alunminum and copper
9.18 Which of the following statements is/are TRUE for R Food wasto
the Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) in the context of Cardboard
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management? Treatment/separation tochnique
(a) Higher Heating Value (HHV) of the I. Incineration
unprocessed MSW is higher than the HHVof ii. Rapid composting
RDF prOcessed from the same MSW ii. Eddy current separator
(b) RDF can be made in the powdered form 0v. Magnetic separator
(C) Inorganic fraction of MSW is mostly (a) P-iv. Q-ii, R-ii, S-i
to RDF converted (b) P-ii, Q-iv, R-ii, S-i
(0) RDF cannot be used in (c) P-ii, Q-iv, R-i, S-i
conjunction with ol (d) P-iv, Q-i, R-i, S-i
[2023 : 1 M, Set-1)
9.19 The [2024 : 1 M, Set-)
Composition and energy Content of a 9.22 An organic waste is
epresentative
the
solid waste sample are givon in represonted as C O
table. If the moisture content of the waste is HoN,S.
26%, the energy content of the solid waste on (Atomic weights: S-32, E1, C12, O 16, N14).
dry-weigplace).
decimal ht basis is MJ/kg (round off to ono Assumo completo conversion of S to SO, while
burning
SO. gonerated (ingrams) per kgof this waste is
Energy content as -
Components% by Mass discarded basis
[MJ/kg] (rounded offto tdoclmal placo).
Food Naste 20 4.5 [2024 : 2 M, Set-||
CardPaperboard
45 16
5 14

Plastic 10 32

Other 20 8.0
492 MAD

GATE Previous Years Solved Papers: CE mADE

Answers Municipal Solid Waste EASY
9.1 (b)
Management
9.2 (d) 9.3 (a) 9.4 (13.68) 9.5 (a) 9.6 (3870)
9.8 (27273.7) 9.9 (1.64) 9.7 (a)
9.10 (592.88) 9.11 (137.6) 9.12 (6965) 9.13 (c)
9.15 (c) 9.16 (c, d) 9.17 (24) 9.14 (c)
9.18 (b) 9.19 (18.4) 9.20 (b) 9.21 (a)
9.22 (10.1)

Explanations MunicipalSolid Waste Management

9.1 (b) Total solid waste generated in 25 years
= 400000x 365 x 25 =3.65 x 10 ka
Let specific weight of MSW sample is X kg/m
Compaction ratio, 9.7
Now, Total weight Volume before compaction
Total volume 4 =
Volume after compaction
100 50 30 10 10 Volume of waste before compaction,
+
X 300 500 65 125 3.65 x 109
100 V= =3.65x10m3
= 0.4605 100
X Volume of waste after compaction,
9.4
X= 217.15 kg/m s217 kg/m 3.65x 10
V'= =9.125x 10 m3
9.2 (d) 4

We know that both CO, and CH, are green house SW + COver SW cOver
=1.5
gases. SW SW SW
:. Total green house gases produced by Cover = 0.5
120gm of MSW SW
= 50 g CO, +25 g of CH, =75 gm Cover = 0.5 x 9.125 x 106
500 ton of MSW willproduce green house gases = 4.5625 x 10® m3
Total volume = SW + Cover
75
= 500 x 10 x 120 =312.5 >x 10® g/day = (9.125+ 4.5625) x 10® m³
= 13.6875 million m
Per capita average production of green house 9.5 (a)
gases
Let density of sludge is p,
312.5x 10
g/day =312.5 g/day 313 g/day
1x 106 P1 P2
9.3 (a) AssumingC, + C, = 100
100
Incineration can be adopted when the calorific p=
value of the MSW is high. Land fill can be adopted C1C2
P1 P2
when the density of MSW is high. Since in the
given MSW the quantity of inorganic material is 9.6 Sol.
Total energy
low, its density is less. Composting can be ercent Content Dry
Moisture content|dis
Energy as Total
dry
asdiscarded
(inkJkg)
adopted when the MSW contains high organic Component by
Mass (%)
(in %) mass

Content. Barging the MSW into the sea is now a 2500 6

500
20 70 30 1000
Food waste
days generally not used and has become 10 96 10000 9
800
Paper 9.6
4 96 8000
obsolete. Cardboard 10
1 99 14000
1400
Plastics 10 1400
3500 16
Garden trimmings 40 60 40 700
9.4 So 20 80 14000
Wood 5
Solid waste generated per day 100 4.9
Tin Cans 5 2 98 |60 5805
kg
2X 2O0000 =400000
 493
ERSY Environmental Engineering
MRDE E
basis: It will be the total energy 9.10 Sol.
Energyon dry Coal burned in one year
mass is dry.
when whole = 30 x 24 x 60 x 365
in this case only
60% mass in dry.
Since drymass = 1.5768 x 10 kg
Eneray corresponding to 60% 2
= 5805 kJ/kg Sulfur content -x1.5768 x 10 x 10-6
100% dry mass 100
. Energy corresponding to =315.36 tonnes/year
100 x 5805 = 9675 kJ/ka Sulfur content in ash
60
basis = 9675 kJ/ka 6
So energy as on dry x315.36
3870 kJ/ka 100
Diference = (9675 - 5805) = = 18.92 tonnes/year

9.7 (a) Sulfur converted to SO, = 315.36 - 18.92

the vehicles =296.44 tonnes/year
Total no. of kms. travelled by all
= 20000 x 12000 km = 24 x 107
km S+ O,’ SO,
Total NO, emission 1 mole of S is present in 1 mole of SO,
= 2 g/km x 24 x 107 km 32 gm of S is present in 64 gm of SO,
= 48 x 10 g = 48 x 104 ka .. Rate of SO, emission
64 x 296.44 = 592.88 tonnes year
9.8 Sol. 32
Total weight generated by city
= 40 x 10 kg/year 9.11 Sol.
Recovered weith = 10%
mass of MSW=1 kag
. Weight of MSW going into landfill
= 0.9 x 40 x 10 kglyear mass of decomposable material = 0.7 x 103
= 36 x 10 kg/year = 700 gm
Compacted density mass of decomposable solid = 0.65 x 700 =
= 550 kg/m®
Compacted volume of MSW 455 gm
44:6: 43
% mass C:H:0:N: other =
36x 10 kgyear :0.8: 6.2
550 kg/m 455 44.00
= 16.68 (a)
Moles of C= X
= 65454.5454 m³year 12 100
Given, Volume of MSW 455
0.8 x Total landfill volume H= X = 27.3(b)
1 100
:.Total landfill volume
455 43
65454.5454 Q= = 12.22(c)
m²lyear 16 100
0.8 455 0.8
= 81818.18175 m³lyear N= X -=0.26(d)
14 100
Height of landfill = 3 m
:.Area of landfill =
81818.18175
cH,0N,+a
a,b C 3d)
9.9 Sol.
=27272.7 m²lyear jCH.
b,C 3d
Let the ratio of WAS and GW be x :1
According to question mole of
54x +360 x 1 20 Moles of CH,formed by, 1
decomposable material
10x+6x1 1
54x + 360 = 200x + 120 a b C 3d
146x = 240 = 28 4 8
x = 1.64
 494 GATE Previous Years Solved Papers: CE

16.68 27.3 12.22 3 x0.26 =8.6 9.17 Sol. |MADE ERSY

2 8 8 Total municipal waste = 30 MT
Mass of CH, formed .Moisture content present
= 8.6 x 16 = 137.6 gm
= 10% = 10
9.12 Sol. x30 =3
Solid mass =30 - 3 = 27 MT
100 MT
’CO, ldeally,. for composting moisture
Oxygen required for 350 tonne/day
mix = 50% (given)
Let. total mass of waste
Contert a
ideaily isr
12 x350 = 933.33 tonnes/day x= 2.7 + 0.5, x =54
.:. Total mass of waste iideally for
32
2H,0 = 54 MT
COmpostirg
Oxygen required for 100 tonne/day Amount of water in ideal situtation

100 = 800 tonnes/day -of x = 0.5x54 =27 MT

Amount of water added = 27 -3= 24 NT
’SO, (.:. 3 MT water is already added)
32

Oxygen required for 60 tonne/day 9.18 (b)

9.19 Sol.
x60 =60 tonnes/day
Energy content (as discarded basis)
N+ONO, [0.2 x 4.5 + 0.45 x 16 + 0.05 x 14 + 0.1 x
14
32 32 + 0.2 x 8] = 13.6 MJ/kg
Oxygen required for 60 tonne/day Energy content (on dry basis) for moisture
32 Content of 26%:
14
Ex 30 = 68.57 tonnes/day
13.6 MJ/kg x 100%
Total oxygen required = 18.38MJ/Kg
= 933.33 + 800 + 60 + 68.57
(100 26) %
~ 18.4 MJ/kg
= 1861.9 tonne/day
Available O, in waste 9.20 (b)
= 260 tonne/day Haul' in hauled container system operatea n
Required = 1861.9 -260 conventional mode includes the time required
= 1601.9 tonne/day
to reach the disposal site, starting after a
Amount of air required
Container whose contents are to be empteu
1601.9 has been loaded on the truck, plus tne
0.23
-= 6964.78 tonne/day
after leaving the disposal site until the trueA
~ 6965 tonne/day
arrives at the location where the empty contante
9.13 (c is to be redeposited.
Pyrolysis is an endothermic process as there is 9.21 (a)
a substantial heat input required to raise the
biomass to the reaction temperature. 9.22 Sol.
Molecular weight of C40Op0os80Ns Sis: 5+
9.14 (c) 12 x 240 + 16 x 200 + 1x 180 + 14 x
32 = 6362 gm
9.15 (c)
64
SO, generated x 1000 gm/kg
9.16 (G, d) 6362
gm/k9
= 10.059 gm/ka ~ 10.1