Environmental Pollution Control MCQs With Answer

Introduction

Environmental Pollution Control MCQs With Answer is designed for M.Pharm students studying MIP 202T – Scale Up & Technology Transfer. This resource focuses on pollution sources, regulatory requirements, unit operations for effluent and emission control, waste handling, monitoring techniques and risk mitigation relevant to pharmaceutical scale-up and technology transfer. Questions emphasize practical understanding of treatment technologies (biological, physicochemical, thermal), solvent and fugitive emission control, measurement of BOD/COD, and environmental compliance during process intensification. The MCQs include answers and are crafted to reinforce concepts needed for designing environmentally compliant, scalable pharmaceutical processes and preparing for examinations and industry practice.

Q1. What is the primary purpose of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) in a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility

• To treat industrial wastewater to meet regulatory discharge standards
• To generate potable water for process use
• To neutralize airborne emissions
• To recover active pharmaceutical ingredients from process streams

Correct Answer: To treat industrial wastewater to meet regulatory discharge standards

Q2. Which parameter is most commonly used as an indicator of organic pollution in wastewater

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

Correct Answer: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Q3. During scale-up, fugitive emissions are a concern. Which control is most effective for minimizing solvent losses from open tanks

• Closed systems with condensers and solvent recovery
• Increasing tank agitation speed
• Heating the tank to reduce viscosity
• Using higher vapor pressure solvents

Correct Answer: Closed systems with condensers and solvent recovery

Q4. Which technique is appropriate for separating fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from process exhaust

• High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration
• Gravity settling tank
• Primary clarifier
• Activated sludge process

Correct Answer: High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration

Q5. What does COD measure in wastewater analysis

• Total amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidize organic and inorganic matter
• The oxygen demand by microorganisms over 5 days
• Total alkalinity of water
• Concentration of dissolved oxygen present

Correct Answer: Total amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidize organic and inorganic matter

Q6. Which air pollution control device uses centrifugal force to remove particulates from gas streams

• Cyclone separator
• Electrostatic precipitator
• Spray tower
• Activated carbon bed

Correct Answer: Cyclone separator

Q7. For treatment of high-strength pharmaceutical organic wastewater, which biological process is commonly used after primary treatment

• Activated sludge process
• Reverse osmosis
• Coagulation-flocculation with alum only
• Thermal incineration

Correct Answer: Activated sludge process

Q8. Which parameter indicates the presence of suspended solids that may cause turbidity in effluent

• Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
• Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
• BOD/COD ratio

Correct Answer: Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Q9. What is the main objective of solvent recovery units in pharmaceutical plants

• To reduce VOC emissions and recover valuable solvents for reuse
• To increase reaction rates by adding more solvent
• To neutralize acidic wastes prior to discharge
• To precipitate impurities from product streams

Correct Answer: To reduce VOC emissions and recover valuable solvents for reuse

Q10. Which analytical technique is most suitable for qualitative and quantitative analysis of volatile organic compounds in emissions

• Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• UV-Vis spectrophotometry
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy
• Gravimetric analysis

Correct Answer: Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Q11. In wastewater treatment, disinfection is primarily performed to

• Eliminate pathogenic microorganisms before discharge or reuse
• Reduce BOD significantly
• Remove heavy metals from effluent
• Desludge the primary clarifier

Correct Answer: Eliminate pathogenic microorganisms before discharge or reuse

Q12. Which regulatory body in India sets industrial effluent and emission standards that pharmaceutical plants must follow

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil)
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Correct Answer: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Q13. Which process is most appropriate for destruction of hazardous pharmaceutical solid waste at high temperatures

• Incineration in a controlled high-temperature furnace
• Landfilling without treatment
• Composting with municipal waste
• Reverse osmosis

Correct Answer: Incineration in a controlled high-temperature furnace

Q14. What is the significance of BOD/COD ratio for biodegradability assessment

• Higher ratio (>0.4) indicates wastewater is readily biodegradable
• Lower ratio indicates high biodegradability
• Ratio directly measures toxicity to aquatic life
• Ratio is used to estimate pH of effluent

Correct Answer: Higher ratio (>0.4) indicates wastewater is readily biodegradable

Q15. Which technique is commonly used for removal of dissolved organics and color from pharmaceutical effluent when biological treatment is insufficient

• Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) such as ozonation or Fenton’s reagent
• Primary sedimentation
• Screening with coarse screens
• Chloride dosing only

Correct Answer: Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) such as ozonation or Fenton’s reagent

Q16. During scale-up, which assessment helps predict environmental impact of increased production capacity

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Clinical trial protocol
• Market demand analysis
• Quality by Design (QbD) only

Correct Answer: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Q17. What is the typical purpose of a condenser in solvent recovery during distillation

• To cool vapors and condense solvents for collection and reuse
• To increase vapor pressure of solvents
• To introduce air into the distillation column
• To neutralize acidic components in the vapor

Correct Answer: To cool vapors and condense solvents for collection and reuse

Q18. Which monitoring parameter is crucial for assessing the efficacy of an air pollution control device capturing gaseous VOCs

• Concentration of specific VOCs before and after the control device
• Total suspended solids in wastewater
• Soil pH around the plant boundary
• Residual chlorine in treated effluent

Correct Answer: Concentration of specific VOCs before and after the control device

Q19. Which engineering control reduces noise pollution from rotating equipment in a plant

• Enclosures and acoustic insulation around equipment
• Increasing equipment speed
• Operating equipment continuously without maintenance
• Using thinner metal panels for housings

Correct Answer: Enclosures and acoustic insulation around equipment

Q20. In designing wastewater treatment for scale-up, what is the importance of hydraulic retention time (HRT)

• HRT determines contact time for biological degradation and affects treatment efficiency
• HRT sets the pH of the effluent
• HRT controls the thermal conductivity of reactors
• HRT is used to estimate color removal by adsorption only

Correct Answer: HRT determines contact time for biological degradation and affects treatment efficiency

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