Question

Difficulty: Very hardWater Pollution, Industrial Effluents, and Water Treatment

Match each specific industrial effluent contaminant listed on the left with its standard chemical treatment or remediation technique on the right.

  • Dissolved toxic heavy metal ions such as Pb2+Pb^{2+} and Cd2+Cd^{2+} from battery manufacturing plantsPrecipitation as insoluble hydroxides or sulfides using calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2Ca(OH)_2, or sodium sulfide, Na2SNa_2S
  • Non-biodegradable synthetic organic dyes from textile factory wastewaterAdsorption onto high-surface-area activated granular carbon beds
  • Phosphate-rich surfactants (PO43PO_4^{3-}) from industrial laundry detergentsChemical precipitation using alum or lime followed by tertiary biological nutrient removal to prevent eutrophication
  • Acidic effluent containing dissolved H2SO4H_2SO_4 from metal-pickling and mining processesNeutralization reaction using limestone, CaCO3CaCO_3, or slaked lime to restore neutral pH\text{pH}

Answer

Heavy metal ions (Pb2+,Cd2+Pb^{2+}, Cd^{2+}) pair with precipitation using Ca(OH)2Ca(OH)_2 or Na2SNa_2S; non-biodegradable synthetic dyes pair with activated carbon adsorption; phosphate surfactants pair with precipitation and biological nutrient removal; and acidic effluent (H2SO4H_2SO_4) pairs with lime/limestone neutralization.
Each industrial pollutant is matched to its chemically specific treatment based on functional chemistry: heavy metal ions precipitate as sulfides/hydroxides, non-biodegradable organic dyes adsorb onto activated carbon, phosphates precipitate to control eutrophication, and acidic effluents are neutralized with basic compounds.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze heavy metal waste remediation chemistry
Heavy metal cations (Pb2+,Cd2+Pb^{2+}, Cd^{2+}) react with OHOH^- or S2S^{2-} to form insoluble salts (PbSPbS, Cd(OH)2Cd(OH)_2) precipitating out of solution.
Chemical precipitation renders toxic soluble metals insoluble and separable by filtration.
2
Evaluate textile dye removal processes
Refractory organic dye molecules adsorb onto activated carbon porous structures.
Synthetic organic dyes are resistant to standard oxidation/biodegradation but adsorb readily onto carbon surfaces.
3
Identify phosphate pollution control
Phosphates precipitate as calcium phosphate or aluminum phosphate during tertiary wastewater treatment.
Phosphate removal is critical to prevent algal blooms and eutrophication in receiving aquatic ecosystems.
4
Determine acidic wastewater treatment
H2SO4H_2SO_4 reacts with CaCO3CaCO_3 or Ca(OH)2Ca(OH)_2 in an acid-base neutralization producing neutral sulfate salts and water.
Adjusting effluent pH\text{pH} to near neutral (6.58.56.5-8.5) is mandatory prior to discharge to safeguard aquatic life.

Key Concept

Industrial Effluents and Specific Water Remediation Techniques
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