Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|1

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LAB REPORT

Lab Layout & Equipment’s Description

Submitted to:

Ma’am Amaraha Batool

Submitted to:
Noman Ashraf (2015-CH-256)
Naveed Tahir (2015-CH-254)
Hamza Sarwar (2015-CH-248)
Usama Zafar (2015-CH-249)
Zubair Qadir (2015-CH-257)

Feb 11, 2019

University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore (KSK Campus)

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|2

Table of Content
Lab Layout................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Biological Safety Cabinet ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Description:.......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Sedimentation Tank: ................................................................................................................................................ 5
Description:.......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Test Kits.................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Description:.......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Fume Hood Apparatus ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Description:.......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Application: .......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Flocculation Tank ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Effect on Turbidity: .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Slow Mixing:......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Digital Flocculator .................................................................................................................................................... 8
Description:.......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Deep Bed Filter Column ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Water Purification system .....................................................................................................................................10
References: ............................................................................................................................................................11

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|3

Lab Layout

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|4

Biological Safety Cabinet

A biological safety cabinet (BSC) is the primary barrier protection for individuals working
with biohazardous materials. The common element to all classes of biological safety cabinets is
the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This filter removes particles with aerodynamic
diameters of 0.3 micron with an efficiency of 99.97 percent. [4]

Description:
• Operate cabinet blowers for five minutes before beginning work to allow the cabinet to
purge or remove particulates from the cabinet.
• Wipe the work surface, interior walls and surface of the window with a suitable
disinfectant.
• Introduce only those items that are required to perform the procedures and arrange in a
logical order. Each item should be wiped with a disinfectant prior to placing it into the
cabinet in order to reduce the introduction of contaminants. The flow of work should
proceed across the work surface from clean to contaminated areas. Similarly, pipette tip
discard trays containing disinfectant, biohazard bags, sharps containers, etc., should be
placed to one side inside the BSC.
• Perform procedures slowly by moving items in and out of the cabinet using a straight in
and out motion and avoiding side to side motions. After placing arms/hands inside the
BSC, manipulations should be delayed to permit the cabinet to stabilize and allow the flow
of air to remove surface contaminants from your arms/hands.

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|5

• Open flames inside the cabinet create turbulence that can disrupt the pattern of air and
compromise the safety of the operator and affect product protection. Flames can also
damage the interior of the cabinet as well as the HEPA filters.
• If culture media or other fluids need to be aspirated, suction or aspirator flasks should be
connected to an overflow collection flask containing disinfectant.
• When work is completed all items within the cabinet should be wiped down with
disinfectant and removed from the cabinet. [5]

Sedimentation Tank
Sedimentation is the process by which suspended particles are removed from the water
by means of gravity or separation. In the sedimentation process, the water passes through a
relatively quiet and still basin. In these conditions, the floc particles settle to the bottom of the
basin, while “clear” water passes out of the basin over an effluent baffle or weir.
The solids collect on the basin bottom and are removed by a mechanical “sludge
collection” device. The sludge collection device scrapes the solids (sludge) to a collection point
within the basin from which it is pumped to disposal or to a sludge treatment process.
Sedimentation involves one or more basins, called “clarifiers.” Clarifiers are relatively large open
tanks that are either circular or rectangular in shape. [3]

Optimization of the Sedimentation:

Optimization of the Sedimentation and Clarification Process Optimization of the
clarification process will minimize the solids loading on the filters and will contribute to enhanced
filter performance and better overall treated water quality.

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|6

Test Kits
Test kits are used for rapid testing of water quality and can provide on-the-spot water
quality information. The most suitable test kit for each application should always be chosen and
all instructions should be strictly followed.

Description:
Test kits should only be used in three situations:
1. As a screening tool for the presence of an analyte of interest. The test kit must be capable
of detecting analyte at environmentally significant concentration.
2. Where the holding time for an analyte is so short that it is not possible for the sample to
be analyzed by laboratory. In this case the test kit must be validated before use.
3. As an emergency backup for instrument readings (damaged pH probe).

Fume Hood Apparatus

A fume hood is a type local ventilation device that is designed to limit exposure to
hazardous or toxic fumes, vapors or dusts.

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|7

Description:
A fume hood is typically a large piece of equipment enclosing five sides of a work area, the
bottom of which is most commonly located at a standing work height. Two main types exist,
ducted and recirculating (ductless). The principle is the same for both types: air is drawn in from
the front (open) side of the cabinet, and either expelled outside the building or made safe
through filtration and fed back into the room.
Application:
1. Protect the user from inhaling toxic gases
2. Protect the product or experiment
3. Protect the environment (recirculating fume hoods, certain biosafety cabinets,
and any other type when fitted with appropriate filters in the exhaust airstream)

Flocculation Tank
Flocculation is the “snowballing” of small particles into larger particles (called “floc”). It
is a time-dependent process that directly affects clarification efficiency by providing multiple
opportunities for particles suspended in water to collide through gentle and prolonged agitation.
Temperature and pH also affect the flocculation process.

Effect on Turbidity:
Flocculation reduces number of suspended solids particles as smaller particles combine to
form larger ones. This process may result in reduced turbidity in flocculation chamber.
Slow Mixing:
Slow mixing is a key aspect of the flocculation process. In slow mixing, the water is stirred
to encourage floc particles to clump together. Stirring too fast can break large particles apart,
while stirring too slowly can prevent particles from clumping enough.

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|8

Digital Flocculator
Flocculator (Jar Test Apparatus) is an equipment designed for testing water soluble
polymers used with conventional waste water treatment processes such as:
• Coagulation
• Flocculation
• Sedimentation in water
• Waste water treatment

Description:
• Determine optimum coagulant concentration to ensure efficient flocculation
• Paddles are driven by electronically controlled variable speed electronic stepper motor.
• Stirring rods can be adjusted removed individually during mixing.
• Provide effective glare free illumination of floc samples by fluorescent tubes.
• Diffuse plate is constructed of acrylic plastic and projects diffused light through the floc samples.

Aeration Tank
A fluid holding tank with provisions to aerate its contents by bubbling air or another gas through
the liquid or by spraying the liquid into the air. The biological treatment of the wastewater takes place
in the aeration tank.

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report Page|9

Description:
• Aerobic units utilize a suspended growth wastewater treatment process, and may be used to
remove substantial amounts of BOD and suspended solids which are not removed by simple
sedimentation. Under appropriate conditions, aerobic units may also provide for nitrification of
ammonia, as well as significant pathogen reduction.
• Some type of primary treatment usually precedes the aerated tank. The aerated tanks contain
an aeration chamber, with either mechanical aerators or blowers, or air diffusers, and an area
for final clarification (settling).

Deep Bed Filter Column

Deep Bed filter may be defined as a granular filter for removal of TSS from secondary treatment
effluent using a media depth of at least four feet at a filtration rate of more than 2 gpm/ft2.

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report P a g e | 10

Description:
• Coarse media is normally used to encourage deep penetration of solids into the media bed. This
allows for longer filtration runtimes. Simultaneous air and water backwashes are used to ensure
cleaning of the filters as require.
• The medium is supported on a corrosion-resistant gauze mesh below, packed with 1kg of 10mm
Ballotin to ensure good wash water distribution.

Water Purification system

Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants,

suspended solids and gases from water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose. In water
treatment or purification, these steps are followed:
Pre-treatment:
In pre-treatment, the water is passed through sand filters, or bag filters. These filters remove large
particulates from the water and pass it onto the next stage.
De-chlorination:
In this step, the water is generally passed through activated carbon/charcoal. It is known to remove
32 organic/inorganic chemicals from the water and also removes the added chlorine.
Water softening:
In this step, the salts of magnesium and calcium are removed from the water, that converts the water
from hard to soft water.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse Osmosis is a process for the reduction of dissolved ions (such as salts) from water in which
pressure is employed to force liquid (water) through a semi-permeable membrane, which will transmit
the water but reject most other dissolved materials. When forced against the membrane surface, the
dissolved materials are repelled, while the water molecules are diffused through the membrane
molecule by molecule, forming purer water on the other side.

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus
Environmental Engineering Lab Report P a g e | 11

References:

1. Environmental Engineering Lab Manual

2. http://www.chemengonline.com
3. www.researchgate.net
4. Perry, R. a. (1997). Perry’s Chemical Engineer’s Handbook, 7th Edition, McGraw Hill, Inc., New
York. pp14-6, 18-22-2.
5. discoverarmfield.com/en/products/view/uop4/solid-liquid-extraction-u

Department of Chemical, Polymer& Composite Material Engineering, UET Lahore KSK Campus