Effluent treatment procedures MCQs With Answer

Effluent treatment procedures MCQs With Answer

Introduction: This collection of multiple-choice questions focuses on effluent treatment procedures relevant to M.Pharm students studying Hazards and Safety Management. The quiz covers core principles and practical aspects of pharmaceutical effluent treatment including primary, secondary and tertiary processes; physico-chemical and biological methods; advanced oxidation, membrane technologies, sludge handling and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) strategies. Emphasis is placed on process selection for pharmaceutical contaminants, solvent recovery, regulatory compliance, monitoring parameters (BOD, COD, TSS, AOX) and operator safety. These MCQs will help you deepen conceptual understanding, prepare for examinations and support safe, compliant design and operation of effluent treatment plants in the pharmaceutical industry.

Q1. What is the primary objective of primary treatment in an effluent treatment plant (ETP)?

• Complete removal of dissolved organic compounds
• Removal of settleable solids and floating matter
• Disinfection of pathogenic microorganisms
• Advanced oxidation of recalcitrant organics

Correct Answer: Removal of settleable solids and floating matter

Q2. What is the main purpose of an equalization tank in pharmaceutical wastewater management?

• To chemically neutralize hazardous constituents
• To homogenize flow and pollutant load and reduce shock loads
• To biologically degrade antibiotics
• To polish effluent to potable standards

Correct Answer: To homogenize flow and pollutant load and reduce shock loads

Q3. In coagulation-flocculation, how do metal salt coagulants (e.g., alum) primarily act on colloidal particles?

• By increasing the solubility of colloids
• By charge neutralization and destabilization of colloids
• By biological consumption of colloids
• By photolytic breakdown of colloids

Correct Answer: By charge neutralization and destabilization of colloids

Q4. Which unit operation is most commonly used for recovery of valuable organic solvents from pharmaceutical process effluents?

• Activated carbon adsorption
• Biological aeration
• Distillation/solvent recovery unit
• Ion exchange

Correct Answer: Distillation/solvent recovery unit

Q5. For high removal of suspended solids and enhanced biological treatment with retention of biomass, which technology is preferred?

• Conventional trickling filter
• Membrane bioreactor (MBR)
• Stoichiometric chemical precipitation
• Free surface aerated lagoon

Correct Answer: Membrane bioreactor (MBR)

Q6. Which is an example of an advanced oxidation process (AOP) commonly used to degrade recalcitrant pharmaceutical molecules?

• Chlorination at low dose
• Fenton’s reagent (hydrogen peroxide + ferrous ion)
• Conventional sedimentation
• Gravity filtration

Correct Answer: Fenton’s reagent (hydrogen peroxide + ferrous ion)

Q7. Which tertiary treatment is most effective for removing trace organic micropollutants and residual pharmaceuticals?

• Primary sedimentation
• Granular activated carbon adsorption
• pH neutralization
• Grease trap

Correct Answer: Granular activated carbon adsorption

Q8. Which disinfection method is most associated with the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) as disinfection by-products?

• Chlorination using free chlorine
• Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation
• Ozone treatment
• Membrane filtration

Correct Answer: Chlorination using free chlorine

Q9. Which mechanical dewatering technology typically produces the driest sludge cake among common options?

• Drying beds
• Belt filter press
• Filter press
• Centrifuge

Correct Answer: Filter press

Q10. Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems commonly employ which key unit to concentrate effluent before final crystallization?

• Equalization tank
• Evaporator / crystallizer
• Primary clarifier
• Sand filter

Correct Answer: Evaporator / crystallizer

Q11. Which parameter is most indicative of the biodegradable organic fraction in wastewater?

• Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
• pH
• Conductivity

Correct Answer: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Q12. The standard laboratory method to determine Total Suspended Solids (TSS) involves which principle?

• Chromatographic separation
• Gravimetric filtration and drying of retained solids
• Colorimetric assay
• Electrochemical titration

Correct Answer: Gravimetric filtration and drying of retained solids

Q13. What is the most common chemical technique to remove dissolved heavy metals from pharmaceutical effluent?

• Biological nitrification
• Chemical precipitation as metal hydroxides
• Activated sludge aeration
• Membrane bioreactor

Correct Answer: Chemical precipitation as metal hydroxides

Q14. Ion exchange is particularly useful in pharmaceutical ETPs for removal of which type of constituents?

• Suspended solids larger than 100 microns
• Dissolved ionic species such as hardness ions and trace metals
• Bulk biodegradable organics
• Colloidal oil droplets

Correct Answer: Dissolved ionic species such as hardness ions and trace metals

Q15. What is the primary occupational hazard when handling concentrated organic solvents in an ETP solvent recovery section?

• Radiation exposure
• Flammability and inhalation toxicity
• Biological infection risk
• High-voltage electrical shock

Correct Answer: Flammability and inhalation toxicity

Q16. What does the acronym AOX stand for in wastewater analysis?

• Acid-oxidized xenobiotics
• Adsorbable organic halogens
• Activated oxygen index
• Analytical organic xenon

Correct Answer: Adsorbable organic halogens

Q17. Why is pH neutralization often performed prior to biological treatment in pharmaceutical effluents?

• To increase dissolved heavy metals solubility
• To adjust pH to a range suitable for microbial activity and protect downstream processes
• To sterilize the wastewater
• To precipitate all organic compounds

Correct Answer: To adjust pH to a range suitable for microbial activity and protect downstream processes

Q18. Which membrane process is most effective at removing dissolved salts and small organic molecules to produce low-salinity permeate?

• Microfiltration
• Reverse osmosis
• Electrocoagulation
• Settling

Correct Answer: Reverse osmosis

Q19. For high-strength pharmaceutical wastewater with large COD load where energy recovery is desired, which biological route is typically applied?

• Extended aeration activated sludge
• Anaerobic digestion (e.g., UASB) producing biogas
• Rapid sand filtration
• Membrane polishing only

Correct Answer: Anaerobic digestion (e.g., UASB) producing biogas

Q20. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) set is most appropriate when handling concentrated acids or caustic chemicals during ETP maintenance?

• Standard cotton gloves and safety shoes
• Chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles/face shield, chemical apron and respirator as required
• Disposable paper mask only
• No PPE if working quickly

Correct Answer: Chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles/face shield, chemical apron and respirator as required

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com