Skip to content

Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section

Environmental Engineering
3 formulas
10 exam-style examples
~51 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
Steady-state mass balance — solve for blended concentration — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 16.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 39.5000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 13.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 24.5000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=16.5000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 16.5000 MGD
  • concentration1(C1)=39.5000mg/Lconcentration 1 (C_{1}) = 39.5000 mg/L
  • flow2(Q2)=13.0000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 13.0000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=24.5000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 24.5000 mg/L

Find

blended concentration (C), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 16.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 39.5000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 13.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 24.5000 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C=32.8898 mg/LC = 32.8898\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C = 32.8898 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C=32.8898 mg/LC = 32.8898\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • 65.7797 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 16.4449 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 36.1788 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 2
Steady-state mass balance — solve for concentration 1 — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (2)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 9.5000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 9.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 40.5000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 42.8600 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=9.5000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 9.5000 MGD
  • flow2(Q2)=9.0000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 9.0000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=40.5000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 40.5000 mg/L
  • blendedconcentration(C)=42.8600mg/Lblended concentration (C) = 42.8600 mg/L

Find

concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 9.5000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 9.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 40.5000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 42.8600 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C1=45.0958 mg/LC_{1} = 45.0958\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 45.0958 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C1=45.0958 mg/LC_{1} = 45.0958\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • 90.1916 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 22.5479 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 49.6054 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 3
Steady-state mass balance — solve for blended concentration (case 2) — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (3)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 12.0000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 50.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 11.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 11.5000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=12.0000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 12.0000 MGD
  • concentration1(C1)=50.0000mg/Lconcentration 1 (C_{1}) = 50.0000 mg/L
  • flow2(Q2)=11.0000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 11.0000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=11.5000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 11.5000 mg/L

Find

blended concentration (C), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 12.0000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 50.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 11.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 11.5000 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C=31.5870 mg/LC = 31.5870\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C = 31.5870 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C=31.5870 mg/LC = 31.5870\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • 63.1739 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 15.7935 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 34.7457 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 4
Steady-state mass balance — solve for concentration 1 (case 2) — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (4)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 14.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 5.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 10.0000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 25.6400 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=14.0000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 14.0000 MGD
  • flow2(Q2)=5.5000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 5.5000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=10.0000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 10.0000 mg/L
  • blendedconcentration(C)=25.6400mg/Lblended concentration (C) = 25.6400 mg/L

Find

concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 14.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 5.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 10.0000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 25.6400 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C1=31.7843 mg/LC_{1} = 31.7843\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 31.7843 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C1=31.7843 mg/LC_{1} = 31.7843\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • 63.5686 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 15.8921 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 34.9627 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 5
Steady-state mass balance — solve for blended concentration (case 3) — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (5)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 12.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 38.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 18.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 16.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=12.5000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 12.5000 MGD
  • concentration1(C1)=38.0000mg/Lconcentration 1 (C_{1}) = 38.0000 mg/L
  • flow2(Q2)=18.0000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 18.0000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=16.0000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 16.0000 mg/L

Find

blended concentration (C), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 12.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 38.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 18.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 16.0000 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C=25.0164 mg/LC = 25.0164\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C = 25.0164 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C=25.0164 mg/LC = 25.0164\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • 50.0328 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 12.5082 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 27.5180 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 6
Steady-state mass balance — solve for concentration 1 (case 3) — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (6)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 14.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 8.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 37.0000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 37.5400 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=14.0000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 14.0000 MGD
  • flow2(Q2)=8.5000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 8.5000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=37.0000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 37.0000 mg/L
  • blendedconcentration(C)=37.5400mg/Lblended concentration (C) = 37.5400 mg/L

Find

concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 14.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 8.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 37.0000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 37.5400 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C1=37.8679 mg/LC_{1} = 37.8679\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 37.8679 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C1=37.8679 mg/LC_{1} = 37.8679\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • 75.7357 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 18.9339 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 41.6546 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 7
Steady-state mass balance — solve for blended concentration (case 4) — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (7)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 3.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 1.5000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 3.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 31.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=3.5000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 3.5000 MGD
  • concentration1(C1)=1.5000mg/Lconcentration 1 (C_{1}) = 1.5000 mg/L
  • flow2(Q2)=3.5000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 3.5000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=31.0000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 31.0000 mg/L

Find

blended concentration (C), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 3.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 1.5000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 3.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 31.0000 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C=16.2500 mg/LC = 16.2500\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C = 16.2500 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C=16.2500 mg/LC = 16.2500\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • 32.5000 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 8.1250 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 17.8750 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 8
Steady-state mass balance — solve for concentration 1 (case 4) — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (8)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 2.0000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 16.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 2.0000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 36.5100 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=2.0000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 2.0000 MGD
  • flow2(Q2)=16.5000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 16.5000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=2.0000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 2.0000 mg/L
  • blendedconcentration(C)=36.5100mg/Lblended concentration (C) = 36.5100 mg/L

Find

concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 2.0000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 16.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 2.0000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 36.5100 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C1=321.2 mg/LC_{1} = 321.2\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 321.2 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C1=321.2 mg/LC_{1} = 321.2\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

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

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 9
Steady-state mass balance — solve for blended concentration (case 5) — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (9)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 16.5000 MGD; concentration 1 (C1) = 13.0000 mg/L; flow 2 (Q2) = 9.0000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 49.0000 mg/L, determine the blended concentration (C) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=16.5000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 16.5000 MGD
  • concentration1(C1)=13.0000mg/Lconcentration 1 (C_{1}) = 13.0000 mg/L
  • flow2(Q2)=9.0000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 9.0000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=49.0000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 49.0000 mg/L

Find

blended concentration (C), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C is given, so isolate C 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 16.5000 MGD, concentration 1 (C1) = 13.0000 mg/L, flow 2 (Q2) = 9.0000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 49.0000 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C=25.7059 mg/LC = 25.7059\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C = 25.7059 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C=25.7059 mg/LC = 25.7059\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • 51.4118 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • 12.8529 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • 28.2765 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

Example 10
Steady-state mass balance — solve for concentration 1 (case 5) — Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc (10)

A environmental engineering problem uses Steady-state mass balance. Given flow 1 (Q1) = 12.5000 MGD; flow 2 (Q2) = 3.5000 MGD; concentration 2 (C2) = 42.5000 mg/L; blended concentration (C) = 8.6800 mg/L, determine the concentration 1 (C1) in mg/L.

Given

  • flow1(Q1)=12.5000MGDflow 1 (Q_{1}) = 12.5000 MGD
  • flow2(Q2)=3.5000MGDflow 2 (Q_{2}) = 3.5000 MGD
  • concentration2(C2)=42.5000mg/Lconcentration 2 (C_{2}) = 42.5000 mg/L
  • blendedconcentration(C)=8.6800mg/Lblended concentration (C) = 8.6800 mg/L

Find

concentration 1 (C1), in mg/L

Start with the thinking

  • The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Steady-state mass balance.
  • Everything except C1 is given, so isolate C1 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.
  • Environmental Engineering items reward recognising the unknown before touching a calculator.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Step 1 — State the governing relation:

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)
  2. Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.

  3. Step 3 — List the givens: flow 1 (Q1) = 12.5000 MGD, flow 2 (Q2) = 3.5000 MGD, concentration 2 (C2) = 42.5000 mg/L, blended concentration (C) = 8.6800 mg/L.

  4. Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.

  5. Step 5 — Evaluate:

    C1=−0.7896 mg/LC_{1} = -0.7896\ \text{mg/L}
  6. Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = -0.7896 mg/L to

    C=(Q1C1+Q2C2)/(Q1+Q2)C = (Q_1 C_1 + Q_2 C_2) / (Q_1 + Q_2)

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

Answer:
C1=−0.7896 mg/LC_{1} = -0.7896\ \text{mg/L}

Why the other options are there

  • -1.5792 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
  • -0.3948 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
  • -0.8686 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.

Reference: FE Reference Handbook — Environmental Engineering → Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc

© 2026 Dr. Steve Efe. Civil Engineering Capstone Studio. All rights reserved.