UPSC Prelims 2025 · Question 10 of 100
UPSC Prelims 2025 question on Activated Carbon Effluent Treatment
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2025
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectEnvironment and Ecology
- TopicPollution
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeAssertion
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I:
Activated carbon is a good and an attractive tool to remove pollutants from effluent streams and to remediate contaminants from various industries.
Statement-II:
Activated carbon exhibits a large surface area and a strong potential for adsorbing heavy metals.
Statement-III:
Activated carbon can be easily synthesised from environmental wastes with high carbon content.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Show answer
Answer: A. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
Analysis
Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I → Option (a).
Statement by statement
Statement I – CORRECT: Activated carbon is a popular and effective method for removing pollutants from water, particularly in wastewater treatment and industrial processes.
Statement II – CORRECT: Activated carbon has good potential for adsorbing heavy metals because of its greater surface area, microporous ability, and chemical complexity of its external area. It exhibits a large surface area and a strong potential for adsorbing heavy metals – this explains why it is an attractive tool (Statement I).
Statement III – CORRECT: Activated carbon is produced from environmental wastes with high carbon content. Lignocellulosic and coal materials have been used as raw materials planned for manufacturing of activated carbons. Activated carbon can be made relatively easily at home using materials like coconut shells or wood – this also explains why it is an attractive tool (Statement I).
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