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Monash University
Semester One 2011 Faculty Of Science
EXAM CODES: TITLE OF PAPER: EXAM DURATION: READING TIME: CHM3960 Environmental Chemistry 3 hours writing time 10 minutes

THIS PAPER IS FOR STUDENTS STUDYING AT:( tick where applicable) Berwick X Clayton Malaysia Off Campus Learning Caulfield Gippsland Peninsula Enhancement Studies Pharmacy Other (specify)

Open Learning Sth Africa

During an exam, you must not have in your possession, a book, notes, paper, calculator, pencil case, mobile phone or other material/item which has not been authorised for the exam or specifically permitted as noted below. Any material or item on your desk, chair or person will be deemed to be in your possession. You are reminded that possession of unauthorised materials in an exam is a discipline offence under Monash Statute 4.1.

No examination papers are to be removed from the room.

AUTHORISED MATERIALS CALCULATORS X YES NO * Calculators with School of Chemistry/Faculty of Science authorisation label only OPEN BOOK SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED ITEMS if yes, items permitted are: YES YES X NO X NO

This paper consists of 16 QUESTIONS in 3 SECTIONS. Please answer all questions.

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Data and Formulae

q = Q/A RE = (Ci-Co/Ci ) x 100% TSS %RE = 100 78q0.33Ci-0.49 TP %RE = 100 12q0.44 TN %RE = 100 14q0.43

G0 (kJ mol-1) CH2O + O2 CO2 + H2O 5CH2O + 4NO3- + 4H+ 5CO2 + 2N2 + 7H2O CH2O + 4FeOOH + 8H+ CO2 + 4Fe2+ + 7H2O 2CH2O + SO42- + H+ 2CO2 + HS- + H2O NH4+ + 2O2 NO3- + H2O + 2H+ HS- + 2O2 SO42- + H+
Ficks Law

-479 -453 -114 -77 -348 -794

J = Ds

dC dz

Isotope fractionation in an open system RS = input + f Isotope fractionation in a closed system RS = input - ln(1-f) Isotope per mil notation HX() = (Rsample/Rstandard - 1) 103

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SECTION A: Water Pollution and Treatment

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS FROM THIS SECTION THIS SECTION WILL BE MARKED OUT OF 50 THIS SECTION SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN 60 MINUTES.

Question A1 (4 + 2 = 6 marks) (a) In the following reactions name the electron donor and the electron acceptor, what is the name of this reaction? (i) 2CH2O + SO42- + H+ 2CO2+ HS- + H2O (ii) CH2O + 4FeOOH + 8H+ CO2 + 4Fe2+ + 7H2O (b) Would you expect reaction (i) to continue in the presence of (i) O2 (ii) Fe3+? Briefly explain why

Question A2 (5 + 5 = 10 marks) (a) (b) Describe, with the aid of a diagram, the process of kinetic isotope fractionation. Describe, with reference to chemical processes why nitrogen leaving sewage treatment plants is isotopically enriched in 15N

Question A3 (3 + 5 = 8 marks) The following oxygen and nitrate profiles are observed (using micro-electrodes) within a sediment adjacent macrophytes in a water treatment wetland. Distance 0 represents the sediment water interface, negative values represent distance into the sediment.

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(a)

Draw a conceptual diagram including transport processes and reactions that gave rise to these observed profiles. Make particular reference to the likely cause of the subsurface peak in O2 and NO3- at 14 mm depth. Calculate the flux of NO3- into the anoxic zone of the sediment (for the surface peak only) assume the diffusion coefficient for NO3- is 8 x 10-6 cm2/s.

(b)

Question A4 (5 marks) You have been commissioned to design a study of metal pollution in a water treatment wetland. Describe where you would focus your sampling effort and why. Question A5 (5 + 6 = 11 marks) (a) (b) Describe, with the aid of a diagram, the concept of zeta potential of a colloid. At what zeta potential are colloids least stable? Describe, with the aid of diagrams the two primary mechanisms by which alum removes particles and organic matter during drinking water treatment.

Question A6 (5 marks) Sewage treatment plants alter between aerobic and anaerobic conditions to facilitate the biological removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. Describe why this is so (with the aid of either chemical reaction equations or a diagram) for phosphorus. Question A7 (5 marks) How is the anammox process different to conventional sewage treatment processes? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this process? Page 4 of 9

SECTION B: Soil Chemistry

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS FROM THIS SECTION THIS SECTION WILL BE MARKED OUT OF 50 THIS SECTION SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN 60 MINUTES.

Question B1 (4 + 3 + 3 = 10 marks) Examine the following diagram of a particular clay type, taken from the textbook (Brady and Weil, 13th Ed. Fig. 8.7) and answer the questions that follow below:

(a) (b) (c)

If magnesium replaces aluminium in the octahedral layer, what is the effect on the clay surface charge? What is the term that describes this effect? Explain your answer. What functions do the hydrated exchangeable cations have in the soil, and which element forms the most abundant cation in all good soils? What other important component of soil contributes significantly to its cation exchange capacity? Explain your answer in relation to the chemical feature(s) of this component that enables cation exchange to occur.

Question B2 (5 + 3 + 8 + 4 = 20 marks)

Soil carbon sequestration is now receiving considerable attention in Australia. Soil carbon storage has the potential to be considered as part of a future carbon emissions trading scheme, however, long-term storage of the carbon and its accurate measurement are major concerns.

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(a)

Briefly describe the chemical nature of the major classes or forms of organic matter found in soil. In your description, you should indicate which of these are the most stable. (Structures are not required, but an indication of the general chemical composition should be provided) Lehmann (Nature 447, 143-144, 2007) has suggested that Biochar is a lower-risk strategy than other sequestration options involving soil. i) ii) Briefly explain how biochar is produced Discuss the issues relating to the use of Biochars in broad acre farming in Australia. Can Lehmanns statement be accepted without further considerations?

(b)

(c)

Describe two land management practices that will assist in increasing the level of carbon stored in the soil.

Question B3 (3+ 3 + 2 = 8 marks) The chemical structure of atrazine, previously a widely used herbicide, but now banned in many countries, is shown below. It has been associated with birth defects and other adverse effects in many organisms.

Its half-life is soil has been measured from as little as 13 days to up to one year. It is mainly degraded through the action of soil microbes. (a) Under what soil pH conditions would this molecule be likely to be more water soluble and hence likely to enter the ground-water. Explain your answer (You may use a chemical structure diagram to illustrate your answer). A soil that is rich in 2:1 type clays (e.g montmorillonite) could potentially trap and stabilise this molecule. Explain this statement in terms of the structure of the clay and how it might interact with the herbicide molecule. One known chemical degradation pathway involves hydrolysis of the C-Cl bond and dealkylation of the ethyl and isopropyl groups on the nitrogens outside the ring. Draw the structure of a likely intermediate degradation product based on this information.

(b)

(c)

Question B4 (3 + 3 + 2 = 8 marks) Briefly explain the significance of the following statements (a) (b) Saline soils are not necessarily sodic and sodic soils are not always saline. Phytoremediation of contaminated soils is of limited value

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(c)

Some farming areas have lost the ability to grow preferred agricultural crops, even when liming has been used

Question B5 (2 + 2 = 4 marks) (a) (b) What chemical form of aluminium would be expected to dominate in a soil with pH 4.5 (measured in deionised water)? Where does the aluminium in soil come from?

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SECTION C: Energy Chemistry

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS FROM THIS SECTION SECTION WILL BE MARKED OUT OF 50. THIS SECTION MUST BE COMPLETED IN 60 MINUTES.

Question C1 (3 + 3 + 3 = 9 marks) (a) Identify Australias three principal energy resources (in terms of energy content) and, for each, indicate the extent to which they are used locally and/or exported. What is meant by the term non-conventional oil? Give at least two examples. Reserve to production ratios for particular fossil fuels change with time. How can this be?

(b) (c)

Question C2: (8 + 4 + 4 = 16 marks) Most Australian electricity is produced from coal. Victoria uses brown coal brown coal. Most other states use higher rank bituminous coals. These coal-fired power stations rely on pulverized fuel combustion in boilers to generate this electricity (via steam turbines) in a relatively inefficient way. (a) Briefly describe the major organic inputs, sedimentary processes and transformational changes that led to these coals. Also, make use of a vanKrevelen diagram to indicatively illustrate the chemical changes that have occurred over time as well as the current composition (ie, the location on the vanKrevelen diagram) of these coals. Identify and describe two specific technologies by which the efficiency of power generation from coal could be significantly improved. Identify and describe two key advantages and two key disadvantages of clean coal as a fuel for the future.

(b) (c)

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Question C3:

(3 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 13 marks)

The catalytic converter is an essential component of all modern motor vehicles. Illustrate the structure of the monolithic catalyst and briefly describe the purpose of each layer. (a) Identify the catalytically active metals generally employed and describe their function in chemical terms. (b) (c) What is the air-fuel ratio and why is it important? What is the temperature range for efficient operation? What happens when the temperature is too hot or too cold? Over recent years, an extra function has been added to the catalytic converters for diesel trucks. What does this added function achieve and how does it work?

(d)

Question C4: (3 + 4 + 5 = 12 marks) There is serious concern about the projected levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere; yet, at the same time, a large and growing appetite for cheap electrical power generated from fossil fuels. Hence technologies are being developed to capture and sequester the carbon dioxide. (a) Sketch and describe the concept of Post-combustion capture, including a specification of which gases must be separated. Identify three different options for geological sequestration in the Australian context and explain which of these is deemed to have the greatest storage capacity. The most extensively developed technology (to date) for CO2 emissions capture from power stations is based on absorption. Identify a typical solvent, explain the process chemistry of the absorption process and describe some of the key process issues that need to be improved.

(b)

(c)

END OF EXAM PAPER

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