Explanation:

To solve the problem:

- Container A initially has a mixture of milk and water in the ratio of 8:1.

- The total volume of the mixture in container A is 54 liters.

- Thus, in container A: Milk = (8/9) * 54 = 48 liters, Water = (1/9) * 54 = 6 liters.

- When 18 liters of the mixture is taken out, it contains Milk = (8/9) * 18 = 16 liters, Water = (1/9) * 18 = 2 liters.

- This 18-liter portion is added to container B, which already has milk and water in a 3:1 ratio.

- The difference between total milk and total water in container B is 30 liters.

Given the options, we need to find the initial quantity of the mixture in container B:

- Check each option against the conditions:

- If Option 1: 30 liters initially, let Milk = 3x, Water = x,

- Total = 4x = 30, hence x = 7.5,

- Milk = 22.5, Water = 7.5,

- After adding 16 liters milk and 2 liters water,

- Total milk in B = 22.5 + 16 = 38.5, Water = 7.5 + 2 = 9.5;

- Difference = 38.5 - 9.5 = 29 (Not 30).

- If Option 2: 28 liters, similar checks prove it won’t work.

- If Option 3: 32 liters, similarly calculate and:

- Milk = 24, Water = 8,

- After pouring, Total milk = 24 + 16 = 40, Total water = 8 + 2 = 10,

- Difference = 40 - 10 = 30.

- Hence, this matches the condition perfectly.

- If Options 4 and 5 don't fit, as similar calculations show discrepancies from the required 30-liter difference.