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Material Balance

Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section

Environmental Engineering
11 formulas
10 exam-style examples
~60 min
All Environmental Engineering lectures

Core formulas for this FE topic

Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.

Worked exam-style examples

The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.

Example 1
Material Balance — solve for accumulation rate — Material Balance

material balance around a wastewater treatment unit process Given mass flow in (In) = 352.0 kg/day; mass flow out (Out) = 1,633 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 366.0 kg/day, determine the accumulation rate (Acc) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowin(In)=352.0kg/daymass flow in (In) = 352.0 kg/day
  • massflowout(Out)=1,633kg/daymass flow out (Out) = 1,633 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=366.0kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 366.0 kg/day

Find

accumulation rate (Acc), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except Acc is given, so isolate Acc symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Acc:

    Acc=In−Out+GenAcc = In-Out+Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow in (In) = 352.0 kg/day, mass flow out (Out) = 1,633 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 366.0 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    Acc=352.0−1633+366.0Acc = 352.0-1633+366.0
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Acc=−915.0 kg/dayAcc = -915.0\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Acc = -915.0 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Acc=−915.0 kg/dayAcc = -915.0\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • -1,830 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • -457.5 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • -1,007 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 2
Material Balance — solve for mass flow in — Material Balance (2)

material balance for a pollutant across a mixing basin Given mass flow out (Out) = 390.0 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 476.0 kg/day; accumulation rate (Acc) = 243.0 kg/day, determine the mass flow in (In) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowout(Out)=390.0kg/daymass flow out (Out) = 390.0 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=476.0kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 476.0 kg/day
  • accumulationrate(Acc)=243.0kg/dayaccumulation rate (Acc) = 243.0 kg/day

Find

mass flow in (In), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except In is given, so isolate In symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for In:

    In=Acc+Out−GenIn = Acc+Out-Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow out (Out) = 390.0 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 476.0 kg/day, accumulation rate (Acc) = 243.0 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    In=243.0+390.0−476.0In = 243.0+390.0-476.0
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    In=157.0 kg/dayIn = 157.0\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning In = 157.0 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
In=157.0 kg/dayIn = 157.0\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • 314.0 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 78.5000 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 172.7 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 3
Material Balance — solve for mass flow out — Material Balance (3)

steady state material balance on a treatment reactor Given mass flow in (In) = 3,485 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 220.0 kg/day; accumulation rate (Acc) = 1,267 kg/day, determine the mass flow out (Out) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowin(In)=3,485kg/daymass flow in (In) = 3,485 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=220.0kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 220.0 kg/day
  • accumulationrate(Acc)=1,267kg/dayaccumulation rate (Acc) = 1,267 kg/day

Find

mass flow out (Out), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except Out is given, so isolate Out symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Out:

    Out=In−Acc+GenOut = In-Acc+Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow in (In) = 3,485 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 220.0 kg/day, accumulation rate (Acc) = 1,267 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    Out=3485−1267+220.0Out = 3485-1267+220.0
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Out=2438 kg/dayOut = 2438\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Out = 2,438 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Out=2438 kg/dayOut = 2438\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • 4,876 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 1,219 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 2,682 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 4
Material Balance — solve for accumulation rate (case 2) — Material Balance (4)

material balance around a wastewater treatment unit process Given mass flow in (In) = 3,065 kg/day; mass flow out (Out) = 3,323 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 489.0 kg/day, determine the accumulation rate (Acc) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowin(In)=3,065kg/daymass flow in (In) = 3,065 kg/day
  • massflowout(Out)=3,323kg/daymass flow out (Out) = 3,323 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=489.0kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 489.0 kg/day

Find

accumulation rate (Acc), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except Acc is given, so isolate Acc symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Acc:

    Acc=In−Out+GenAcc = In-Out+Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow in (In) = 3,065 kg/day, mass flow out (Out) = 3,323 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 489.0 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    Acc=3065−3323+489.0Acc = 3065-3323+489.0
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Acc=231.0 kg/dayAcc = 231.0\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Acc = 231.0 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Acc=231.0 kg/dayAcc = 231.0\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • 462.0 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 115.5 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 254.1 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 5
Material Balance — solve for mass flow in (case 2) — Material Balance (5)

material balance for a pollutant across a mixing basin Given mass flow out (Out) = 2,486 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 395.0 kg/day; accumulation rate (Acc) = -1,069 kg/day, determine the mass flow in (In) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowout(Out)=2,486kg/daymass flow out (Out) = 2,486 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=395.0kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 395.0 kg/day
  • accumulationrate(Acc)=−1,069kg/dayaccumulation rate (Acc) = -1,069 kg/day

Find

mass flow in (In), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except In is given, so isolate In symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for In:

    In=Acc+Out−GenIn = Acc+Out-Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow out (Out) = 2,486 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 395.0 kg/day, accumulation rate (Acc) = -1,069 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    In=−1069+2486−395.0In = -1069+2486-395.0
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    In=1022 kg/dayIn = 1022\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning In = 1,022 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
In=1022 kg/dayIn = 1022\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • 2,044 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 511.0 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 1,124 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 6
Material Balance — solve for mass flow out (case 2) — Material Balance (6)

steady state material balance on a treatment reactor Given mass flow in (In) = 1,257 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 356.0 kg/day; accumulation rate (Acc) = -1,632 kg/day, determine the mass flow out (Out) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowin(In)=1,257kg/daymass flow in (In) = 1,257 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=356.0kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 356.0 kg/day
  • accumulationrate(Acc)=−1,632kg/dayaccumulation rate (Acc) = -1,632 kg/day

Find

mass flow out (Out), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except Out is given, so isolate Out symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Out:

    Out=In−Acc+GenOut = In-Acc+Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow in (In) = 1,257 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 356.0 kg/day, accumulation rate (Acc) = -1,632 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    Out=1257−−1632+356.0Out = 1257--1632+356.0
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Out=3245 kg/dayOut = 3245\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Out = 3,245 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Out=3245 kg/dayOut = 3245\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • 6,490 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 1,623 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 3,570 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 7
Material Balance — solve for accumulation rate (case 3) — Material Balance (7)

material balance around a wastewater treatment unit process Given mass flow in (In) = 1,566 kg/day; mass flow out (Out) = 3,384 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 453.0 kg/day, determine the accumulation rate (Acc) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowin(In)=1,566kg/daymass flow in (In) = 1,566 kg/day
  • massflowout(Out)=3,384kg/daymass flow out (Out) = 3,384 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=453.0kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 453.0 kg/day

Find

accumulation rate (Acc), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except Acc is given, so isolate Acc symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Acc:

    Acc=In−Out+GenAcc = In-Out+Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow in (In) = 1,566 kg/day, mass flow out (Out) = 3,384 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 453.0 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    Acc=1566−3384+453.0Acc = 1566-3384+453.0
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Acc=−1365 kg/dayAcc = -1365\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Acc = -1,365 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Acc=−1365 kg/dayAcc = -1365\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • -2,730 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • -682.5 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • -1,502 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 8
Material Balance — solve for mass flow in (case 3) — Material Balance (8)

material balance for a pollutant across a mixing basin Given mass flow out (Out) = 1,144 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 303.0 kg/day; accumulation rate (Acc) = 1,935 kg/day, determine the mass flow in (In) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowout(Out)=1,144kg/daymass flow out (Out) = 1,144 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=303.0kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 303.0 kg/day
  • accumulationrate(Acc)=1,935kg/dayaccumulation rate (Acc) = 1,935 kg/day

Find

mass flow in (In), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except In is given, so isolate In symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for In:

    In=Acc+Out−GenIn = Acc+Out-Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow out (Out) = 1,144 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 303.0 kg/day, accumulation rate (Acc) = 1,935 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    In=1935+1144−303.0In = 1935+1144-303.0
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    In=2776 kg/dayIn = 2776\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning In = 2,776 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
In=2776 kg/dayIn = 2776\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • 5,552 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 1,388 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 3,054 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 9
Material Balance — solve for mass flow out (case 3) — Material Balance (9)

steady state material balance on a treatment reactor Given mass flow in (In) = 2,182 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 98.0000 kg/day; accumulation rate (Acc) = -1,363 kg/day, determine the mass flow out (Out) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowin(In)=2,182kg/daymass flow in (In) = 2,182 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=98.0000kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 98.0000 kg/day
  • accumulationrate(Acc)=−1,363kg/dayaccumulation rate (Acc) = -1,363 kg/day

Find

mass flow out (Out), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except Out is given, so isolate Out symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Out:

    Out=In−Acc+GenOut = In-Acc+Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow in (In) = 2,182 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 98.0000 kg/day, accumulation rate (Acc) = -1,363 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    Out=2182−−1363+98.0000Out = 2182--1363+98.0000
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Out=3643 kg/dayOut = 3643\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Out = 3,643 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Out=3643 kg/dayOut = 3643\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • 7,286 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 1,822 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 4,007 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

Example 10
Material Balance — solve for accumulation rate (case 4) — Material Balance (10)

material balance around a wastewater treatment unit process Given mass flow in (In) = 4,430 kg/day; mass flow out (Out) = 707.0 kg/day; generation rate (Gen) = 7.0000 kg/day, determine the accumulation rate (Acc) in kg/day.

Given

  • massflowin(In)=4,430kg/daymass flow in (In) = 4,430 kg/day
  • massflowout(Out)=707.0kg/daymass flow out (Out) = 707.0 kg/day
  • generationrate(Gen)=7.0000kg/daygeneration rate (Gen) = 7.0000 kg/day

Find

accumulation rate (Acc), in kg/day

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Material Balance.
  • Everything except Acc is given, so isolate Acc symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
  • Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
  • A material balance around a treatment process accounts for accumulation, inflow, outflow, and generation of a constituent.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Acc:

    Acc=In−Out+GenAcc = In-Out+Gen
  3. Step 3 — List the givens: mass flow in (In) = 4,430 kg/day, mass flow out (Out) = 707.0 kg/day, generation rate (Gen) = 7.0000 kg/day.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values:

    Acc=4430−707.0+7.0000Acc = 4430-707.0+7.0000
  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    Acc=3730 kg/dayAcc = 3730\ \text{kg/day}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning Acc = 3,730 kg/day to

    Accumulation=In−Out+GenerationAccumulation = In - Out + Generation

    reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.

Answer:
Acc=3730 kg/dayAcc = 3730\ \text{kg/day}

Why the other options are there

  • 7,460 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 1,865 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 4,103 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Handbook — Material Balance

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