Organic Carbon Partition Coefficient Koc
Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section
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.
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 32.8898 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 45.0958 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 31.5870 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 31.7843 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 25.0164 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 37.8679 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 16.2500 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = 321.2 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C = 25.7059 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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
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
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
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that C1 stands alone on the left-hand side.
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.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning C1 = -0.7896 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
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