EXPERIMENT: Measurement of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

INTRODUCTION:

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is an expression of the quantity of oxygen which is consumed by
micro-organisms in decomposing organic matter in a waste under aerobic conditions. This test is used to
determine the relative oxygen requirements of waste water, effluents and polluted waters. The BOD
determination is an important factor in measuring the influence of domestic and industrial waste water,
sewage plants, waste water treatment plants and receiving canals. Complete stabilization of a sample may
require a period of incubation too long, therefore for practical purposes 5 days has been accepted as a
standard incubation period (BOD5).It is necessary to provide standard conditions of temperature, pH, and
nutrient and ensure the absence of substances which inhibit microbial growth. The sample should contain
organic matter and micro-organisms and if a considerable amount of organisms are not present it should be
seeded artificially.

The apparatus used in the measurement of BOD consist of 6 bottles which are linked to mercury pressure
gauges separately. Once the waste waters are poured into the bottles it will absorb the oxygen contained in
the space above the sample solutions in the bottles This oxygen is used in the bacterial activity).The
removed oxygen is continuously replaced by carbon dioxide (which is a product of the bacterial activity)
which gives rise to negative pressures in the bottles, which can be directly read from the pressure gauges.
These values are used in the computation of the BOD value. Magnetic stirrers are used to keep the sample
permanent motion to ensure a constant gas exchange (O2-CO2)

PROCEDURE

(1) Remove the screw stoppers on the pressure gauge housing and using a tunnel. Pour 2 ml of
mercury into each pressure gauge.
(2) Pour 1-2 ml of distilled water to guarantee a uniform water vapor pressure and to prevent
mercury vapors in the pressure gauge.
(3) Check the pH value of the sample (the most favorable pH value for biochemical oxidation is
between (6.5-7.5).If the pH is significantly higher or lower then it should be buffered down to
within this range.
(4) Adjust the temperature of the sample to 20±1 °C before filling it into the sample bottles.
(The standard procedure prescribes a temperature of 20±1 °C for the determination of BOD).
(5) Pour into bottles the volume of samples according to adopted scale (refer table 1) measured by a
graduated cylinder
(6) Place a magnetic stirrer rod into each sample bottle.
(7) Add NaOH/ KOH pellets to each seep cup and place the cups into the bottles.
(8) Place the sample bottles on the BOD unit.
(9) Fasten the screw stopper of the pressure gauge housing loosely and the screw cap of sample
bottle, do not tighten completely.
(10) Close thermostatically controlled cabinet and wait for 30 minutes (to achieve 20°C)
(11) Tighten screw stopper of pressure gauge housing and screw cap of sample bottle.
(12) Adjust the zero line of the scale to the upper edge of the mercury column.
(13) Enter in the data sheet the exact time measurement started.
(14) Read off BOD values at least once a day and enter in data sheet.
(15) At the end of the fifth day measurement is completed, read off scale value and multiply with the
dilution factor of the sample

SELECTION OF MANOMETER SCALES

(1) If a preliminary information about the probable BOD value of the sample is available, the choice
of the scales to be used is according to Table 01
(2) When no preliminary information about the sample BOD is available, a series of three bottles is
to be prepared, containing respectively the undiluted sample, a 1:10 dilution and a 1:100 dilution
choosing scales according to the highest known BOD value for samples belonging to the same
class of the sample under examination

Table 1

Scale Volume of Sample (ml)

A: 0 – 1000 mg O2 /l 100
B: 0 – 600 mg O2 /l 150
C: 0 – 250 mg O2 /l 250
D: 0 – 90 mg O2 /l 400

CALCULATION

BOD Value = Recorded Value x Dilution Factor (mg O2 /l)

DISCUSSION

(1) Importance of measurement of BOD of wastewater

(2) Methods used for the BOD measurement in the in the industry
(3) Pretreatment steps of samples for BOD measurements
(4) Results analysis
(5) Experimental errors and suggestions for improvements