GATE CE 2021 Set 2 — Question 61
Go beyond PYQs with Success TrackerAI-powered personalised practice and doubt support. Unlimited practice on eligible plans; AI usage limits apply.NAT+2 / -0HardASP Design (F/M, MLSS, SVI)Wastewater Treatment ProcessesEnvironmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering → Wastewater Treatment Processes → ASP Design (F/M, MLSS, SVI)
Last updated
Question
An activated sludge process (ASP) is designed for secondary treatment of of municipal wastewater. After primary clarifier, the ultimate BOD of the influent, which enters into ASP reactor is . Treated effluent after secondary clarifier is required to have an ultimate BOD of . Mix liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) concentration in the reactor and the underflow is maintained as and , respectively. The hydraulic retention time and mean cell residence time are and , respectively. A representative flow diagram of the ASP is shown below.
The underflow volume (in , round off to one decimal place) of sludge wastage is __________.

Correct answer
37 to 38
Solution
Given:
Influent flow rate,
MLVSS in reactor,
MLVSS in underflow,
Hydraulic retention time,
Mean cell residence time, Step 1: Calculate the volume of the reactor ()Step 2: Calculate the sludge wastage rate ()
The formula for mean cell residence time () is:Assuming effluent suspended solids () are negligible as they are not provided in the problem:Substituting the given values:The underflow volume of sludge wastage is .
Influent flow rate,
MLVSS in reactor,
MLVSS in underflow,
Hydraulic retention time,
Mean cell residence time, Step 1: Calculate the volume of the reactor ()Step 2: Calculate the sludge wastage rate ()
The formula for mean cell residence time () is:Assuming effluent suspended solids () are negligible as they are not provided in the problem:Substituting the given values:The underflow volume of sludge wastage is .
Continue learning with Success Tracker
A step still unclear? Work through it with support
Use Success Tracker to ask about the reasoning, then try another GATE CE question to check your understanding.
AI-powered practice· Unlimited practice on eligible plans
- PYQs with solutions
- Attempt available previous-year questions, then compare your reasoning with the worked solution. Coverage varies by stream.
- Practice that adapts
- Choose a topic, work on weaker areas and bookmark questions to revisit. Your attempts feed your progress tracking.
- AI doubt support
- Ask follow-up questions about a step or concept while practising, instead of stopping at the final answer.
Unlimited practice is available on eligible plans. Free practice and AI usage have limits; check the current plan allowances before choosing.
This page stays readable without an account. AI responses can be wrong; check them against the solution and source material.
More questions on Wastewater Treatment Processes
2026 Set 1 Q21A rapid sand filter bed of depth m has % porosity during service cycle. It is…2026 Set 1 Q22The settling velocity of inorganic particles in the sedimentation tank of a water treatment plant…2026 Set 1 Q25Which of the following components is/are NOT removed in the secondary treatment of sewage?2026 Set 2 Q27Column I presents common air pollutants, and column II presents treatment technologies commonly…2026 Set 2 Q28One-third of the solid matter in a sludge containing water is composed of fixed mineral…