Testing
Products/Chemistry
Cooling Tower
Boilers
RO/UF Systems
100

What is the main interference of the hardness test (total and calcium)?

Metals. 

100

Rule of thumb: ___ ppm = 1%

10,000 ppm

100

Less than ___ ppm total alkalinity is considered corrosive water in cooling systems. 

Less than 100 ppm. 

100

Boiler Feed Water (0-300 psi)

What should the ideal hardness level of makeup water be?

It should be less than <0.3 ppm

100

True or False - 


Ultra-filtration removes low molecular weight organics and ions such as sodium, calcium, magnesium chloride, and sulfate. 

False. The pores are too large to remove these impurities. 

200

True/False: 

The pyxis 910 uses the same wavelength of light for all colorimetric tests - The only difference is the color of the test solution. 

False - Tests are conducted at different wavelengths and colors. 


Pyxis 910 has seven different wavelengths and each test has its color. 

200

Why does temperature increase as pressure increases? Technical explanation pls. 

As pressure increases, gas molecules collide and gain more speed and energy, causing a temperature increase.


Temperature = a measure of the average kinetic energy of a molecule or atom. The faster molecules move, the more energy they contain, and the higher their temperature. 

200

1. What condition does an LSI reading of 3 mean?

2. What condition does an LSI reading of -0.2 mean?

1. Extremely severe scaling will occur.

2. No scaling, very slight tendency to dissolve scale. 

200

What is the ideal condensate pH range? 

8.2-8.9

200

Which membrane requires a higher working pressure: ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis? 

Reverse osmosis - because the pores are smaller, it takes more pressure to push pure water through. 
300

At what pH does Phenolphthalein turn pink? And what specific alkalinity is it used to test?

8.3 and bicarbonate alkalinity. 

300

Why does increasing the dissolved ionic solids in water increase corrosion?

Increasing dissolved ionic solids in the water increases the conductivity, allowing more corrosion current to flow. 

300

What is the "threshold effect" in the scaling process?

Inhibitor chemicals become incorporated into the scale crystalline structure during the initial nucleation process. Crystals formed this way have abnormal surface structures and can't grow regularly and as large.

300

Oxygen doubles its "pitting" ability every ___ degrees celcius? 

Every 10 degrees C. 

300

What is the main indicator that an RO system is fouled/needs to be CIP'd?

Normalized permeate flow has decreased by 10%

400

Why is it important for a pH meter to also test for temperature while reading pH?

Because water ionizes more in high temperatures and the instrument corrects for it. 

2H2O ---> H3O+ and OH-

Fun Fact: at 25C, a neutral solution has a pH of 7. at 50C, a neutral solution has a pH of 6. 

400

Name three differences between SC-1804 and SC-1888M.

1. SC-1804 contains sulfite and doesn't need an external source. 

2. SC-1888M has a molybdate tag.

3. SC-1888M is NSF approved. 

400

Provide a technical explanation of the difference between an oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocide and how each type kills bacteria.



Oxidizing Biocides - oxidize and lyse cell walls to kill bacteria. 

Non-oxidizing biocides - absorbed through the cell wall and interfere with cell metabolism - mostly by interfering with enzyme production. 

400

If the waste heat stream is at ___ degrees F or higher, then a boiler can be used cost-effectively to generate steam by recovering the heat value in the stream. 

600 degrees F

400

How many ppm of metabisulfite is considered a "safety" dose to neutralize 1 ppm of chlorine? 

2-3 ppm

500

Out of the following, which tests must be sent out for additional testing (not able to be tested by you or the ACCO lab):

A) Ammonia

B) Aluminum

C) BOD

D) COD

E) Sodium

C & E.

500

Explain the chemistry involved in removing iron or manganese with a greensand filter.

- Pre-oxidant (chlorine dioxide, potassium permanganate, chlorine, etc.) is used to turn ferrous iron (Fe2+) into ferric iron (Fe3+) which makes the iron readily available to be removed. 


- The sand particles have a manganese oxide coating that oxidizes any iron/manganese that doesn't by the pre-oxidant. 

500

Which two oxidizing species are formed when BCDMH reacts with water?

Hypobromous and hypochlorous acid. 

500

How many ppm of sodium sulfite is needed to neutralize 1 ppm of O2?

Need to be exact, but the closest guess will win. 

7.88 ppm sulfite is needed per ppm of O2

500

What is the standard ppm hour limit of free chlorine exposure before salt passage doubles?

1,000 ppm hours.

Example - If you expose your first-stage RO to a continuous average of 38 ppb, you will reach 1,000 ppm-hours in 36 months.