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Introduction

Biochemical Oxygen Demand is defined as the amount of oxygen required by living

organisms in the stabilization of the organic matter of water. It is used to measure approximately

the biochemically degradable organic matter present in the water sample. Using the organic

matter as a food source. the microorganism consumed the oxygen. The amount of organic matter

present within the sample is proportionate to the amount of oxygen being consumed. The 5-day

incubation period has been accepted as the standard for the test or since the test is performed

over a five day period, it is often refferred as five day BOD (BOD 5). The BOD test is indirect

measurement of organic matter. According to INQWS (Index National Quality Water Standards),

the good BOD5 value is less than 5ppm, which is suitable for human daily consumption. High

concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) predict that oxygen uptake by microorganisms is low

along with the required break down of nutrient sources in the sample. On the other hand, low DO

readings signify high oxygen demand from microorganisms, and can lead to possible sources of

contamination depending on the process. A high BOD indicates a high content of

easily degradable, organic material in the sample.

It is generally assumed that the rate at which oxygen is consumed directly proportional to

the concentration of degradable organic matter remaining at any time. Different result would be

obtained at different temperatures because biochemical reaction rates are temperature-dependent.

The kinetics of the

The amount of BOD remaining at time t equals


BODt = BODu e-kt

and the amount of BOD that has been exerted at any time t, equals

BODt = BODu( 1 e-kt )

where t=time

BODu = ultimate BOD

k=0.23 / day at 20oC


T 20
k =k 20 C =constant

The BOD5 test procedure is based on DO concentration and requires an accurated DO

determination. There are some parameters in performing the experiment. For five day BOD

(BOD5), the sample is kept in incubator which remains around 20oc. Most of the biological

process spred up as the temperature increase and slow down as the temperature drop. The

temperature of 20oC is standard temperature in lab and it is suitable for the bacteria active in

breaking down the waste.

Dilution water should be prepared 3-5 days before initiating the BOD5 test to ensure the

BOD dilution water is less than 0.2 mg/L. The pH should be adjusted to 6.5-7.5 with H 2SO4 and

NaOH. Aeration of the dilution water is needed because bacteria need nutrient to survive. The

sample must be prepared not more than 24 hours. If the experiment is to be performed for 2

hours from collection, cold storage is unnecessary but, if the test will begin within more than 2

hours, the sample must keep at or below 4C during compositing.

Seeding is a process of adding live bacteria and microorganism to a sample. If the samples

tested contain materials which could kill or injure the microorganisms, the condition must be

corrected and healthy active organisms added. To prepare a seed material consider to select a

material to be used for seeding which will have a BOD of at least 180 mg/L. This will help
ensure that the seed correction meets the 0.6 mg/L minimum specified in Standard Methods.

Then place the material in a suitable container and incubate at 20C for 24-36 hours. Usually,

settled raw domestic sewage prepared in the manner above will have sufficient BOD for use as a

seed material. If not, small quantities of digester supernatant, return activated sludge, or an

acclimated seed material can be used to increase the potency of the seed material used for the

test.

As an alternative, commercially available seed material may be used. The seed correction

should not exceed 1.0 mg/L BOD; therefore, care should be taken not to use too strong a seed

material for the test. The key to a good seed correction is a relatively stable seed material which

produces a good seed correction in every test situation. Any source of water which can provide a

suitable population of organisms can be used to seed a BOD sample, however, settled raw

sewage or commercially prepared seed material are the most common sources.

The genereal eqution for the determination of a BOD5 is

( DiD f )
BOD 5=
P

where Di = initial DO of sample

Df = final DO of sample after 5 days, and

P = decimal fraction of sample volume used.

The presence of sufficient concentration of DO is critical to maintaining the aquatic life

and aesthetics quality of streams and lakes. Dissolved oxygen allows animals to breathe in water

and it provides a suitable habitat for the other animals. Bacteria in the water also use this oxygen

to break down animals and plants. The oxygen level is not very high in most water sources. If the

oxygen level is reduced, the animals begin to die. It is also to maintaining the aquatic life and

aesthetic quality of streams and lakes.


Determining how organic matter affects the concentration if DO in a stream is integral to

water quality management. The decay of organic matter in water is measured as biochemical or

chemical oxygen demand. (BOD). Oxygen demand is a measure of the amount of oxidizable

substances in a water sample that can lower the DO concentration. DO levels are highest if the

sample of water is not polluted means there is no toxic and bacterial effect so in sample of water

there is a lot of oxygen demanding wastes is well within self-purification capacity. Otherwise,

the BOD will low which is water sample not have microbes live. Then DO levels low if sample

water not have enough oxygen to dissolve in water that need to all leaving things.

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