KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Title:
W4 Chemical Oxygen Demand
Theory:
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) test is usually used to indirectly measure the
amount of organic compounds in the water. Most applications of COD determine the
amount of organic pollutants found in surface water for example lakes and rivers,
making COD a useful measure of water quality. It is expressed in milligrams per liter
(mg/L), which indicates the mass of oxygen consumed per liter of solution.
Since COD measures the oxygen demand of organic compounds in a sample
of water, it is important that no outside organic material be accidentally added to the
sample to be measured. To control for this, a so-called blank sample is needed in the
determination of COD. A blank sample is created by adding all reagents for example
acid and oxidizing agent to a volume of distilled water. COD is measured for both the
water and blank samples, and the two are compared. The oxygen demand in the blank
sample is subtracted from the COD for the original sample to ensure a true
measurement of organic matter.
Introduction:
Chemical oxygen demand is one of the important properties to determine the
level of organic contamination of wastewater. Chemical oxygen demand is defined as
the amount oxygen that required by the oxidizing agent to decompose the organic and
inorganic compound.
In environmental chemistry, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) test is
commonly used to indirectly measure the amount of organic compounds in water.
Most applications of COD determine the amount of organic pollutants found in
surface water (e.g. lakes and rivers), making COD a useful measure of water quality.

KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

It is expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L), which indicates the mass of oxygen
consumed per liter of solution.
The COD test uses a strong chemical oxidant for example COD digestion
reagent, acid, and heat to oxidize organic carbon to carbon dioxide and water. The
COD test takes 2 to 4 hours rather than 5 days for BOD data. The rapid test results of
the COD procedure provide an advantage to the processor monitoring daily waste
production and wastewater discharge. The healthy wastewater treatment plants have a
ranged of COD from 1 to 1.5. The BOD and COD ratio can used to determine
whether the organic matter is biodegradable or non-degradable. If BOD/COD more
than 0.5, then it is biodegradable. For domestic wastewater, the ratio must more than
0.7.
COD values are greater than BOD values because almost all organic
compounds will be oxidized. With the BOD measurement procedure, some of these
compounds do not fully oxidize, making the oxygen demand lower. Present of
chloride will also lower the value of BOD.
Fast organic reactions can be obtained by using heater or reactor.
Specifications for this reactor are written in Standard Method 5520 C. with specific
temperature and vessel requirements.

Objective:
To determine the COD value of water sample using spectrophotometer or
colorimeter.
Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Spectrophotometer or colorimeter
Sulphuric acid
COD reactor
Pipette
2

KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

5. Distilled water
6. Digestion solution
7. Vials
Procedure:
A) Sample preparation
1) Two vials and volumetric pipettes are prepared and rinsed with distilled
water before adding any chemicals into the vials.
2) The two vials are then labeled into Blank and Sample respectively.
3) The COD reactor is turned on and preheated to 150C with a shield placed
in front of the reactor.
4) For the preparation of the Sample, the vial is held at 45 and 2ml of
water sample is pipette into the vial.
5) After that, 1ml of COD digestion reagent is pipette into the vial containing
water sample.
6) Next, 3ml of sulphuric acid is then carefully added into the Sample vial
containing the mixed sample.
7) The vial is then capped tightly and the cap was rinsed with distilled water
and wiped clean with a paper towel.
8) The vial is held by the cap and was gently invert several times over a sink.
9) After that, the vial is placed in the COD reactor with temperature of
150C.
10) For the preparation of Blank, steps 4 to 9 are repeated by substituting the
2ml of water sample with 2ml of distilled water.
11) The sample is taken out after two hours from the COD reactor and was left
cooled at temperature at about 120C after 20 minutes.
12) After that, the sample is inverted few times while still warm and is then
placed on rack and is cooled at room temperature.

B) Colorimetric Measurement
1) By using Hach Program, the program in spectrophotometer is selected for
the desired COD range.
3

KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

2) The wavelength dial is rotated until the small display shows a certain
range of wavelength in nanometer.
3) The outside of Blank vial is cleaned with a paper towel and then is
placed into the spectrophotometer.
4) The COD reading of the blank sample is set to zero and the reading is
recorded.
5) Next, the outside of Sample vial is cleaned with a paper towel and then is
placed into the spectrophotometer.
6) The COD reading of the sample is recorded (mg/L).

Figure 1 COD reactor

Sample

Figure 2 Spectrophometer

Figure 3

Result:
In the earlier part, the two vials; Blank and Sample was prepared and placed inside
the COD reactor for about 2 hours. These vials are then left cooled and are placed into
4

KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

the spectrophotometer to read the COD reading of the blank and sample. The results
can be obtained immediately. Hence, in this experiment, the COD reading for
Sample is 19 mg/L.
Discussion:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of COD testing compare to BOD.
Advantages:
1. In term of duration, the result of COD can be obtained faster than BOD. The
result of COD can be obtained after two hours of testing but BOD is five days
after testing.
2. The experiment procedure for COD is much simple than BOD. It is easier to
carry out compare to BOD.
3. The COD can produce more reproducible result compare to BOD.
4. The cost of carry out COD is much cheaper than BOD because the equipment
is cheaper and procedure for COD is much simple.
Disadvantages:
1. The value of COD is usually higher than BOD because COD test cannot
differentiate between organic matters than can be decompose biologically and
those cannot be decomposed biologically as the organic materials that not
usually oxidized in nature will undergo oxidation by dichromate.
2. Inorganic interference us when inorganic matter with high oxidization level
presence inside water sample, the worst is chloride, interference may interfere
with the determination of COD.
3. A large volume of liquid hazardous waste such as acid, chromium argentums
and mercury will produced from the COD test must be disposed properly, if
not I will bring dangerous to the human.
4. This method operates at elevated temperature as volatile organic compounds
and other organic tends to escape with the high vapor pressure.
Comment on the COD value obtains from the experiment.
5

KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

The COD value obtained from the experiment is 19 mg/L. From the Interim
National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia (INWQS), the water sample is
classified as class IIA. It is suitable for water supply II but conventional treatment
needed. This mean the level of the pollution is not very serious. Only a simple
treatment to kill the bacteria in the water sample and it can be used as water intake.
While in fishery, it classified as fishery II, it is not suitable for a sensitive aquatic
species to live in this water source place.

Find the ratio of BOD5 and COD values of this experiment with W3 and give
your comments.
From the experiment W3, the BOD/ COD ratio is 0.27. Ratio COD/BOD can be used
to assess toxicity of bio-medium. Higher amount implies that the medium has high
toxicity and less food that can be used to remediate it. Substances with COD/BOD
ratios more than 0.5 are likely to be reasonably biodegradable, but if the ratio is
greater than 5, suspicions should be aroused. In such cases it may be that the organic
matter is not readily biodegradable, at least without a period of acclimation, or the
presence of other ingredients may be preventing or inhibiting biological oxidation.
In our result, the substance is non-biodegradable as it value less than 0.5. It is slightly
less than domestic wastewater which is 0.7. As the substances in water sample are
hard to degrade, it may bring harmful to human.
Conclusion:
The COD value of the water sample is 19 mg/l. The water sample is classified as class
IIA.
Reference:

KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Ademoroti CMA (1980). The Effect of pH on Wastewater, Purification, Effl. Wat.

Treat. J. UK. 20(11): 541-549. Retrieved on 2012, May 10 from Article base:
http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/viewFile/57976/46342
Aziz, J.A and Tebutt, T.H.Y. (1980). Significance of COD, BOD and Toccorrelations
in kinetic models of biological oxidations. Wat. Res., 14, 319
Caldwell, N. & Brown, C. (2001).Watershed Protection Plan Development
Guidebook. Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center website:
http://www.gaepd.org/Files_PDF/techguide/wpb/devwtrplan_b.pdf
Chemical Oxygen Demand. (2010). Retrieved
http://www.hannainst.com/usa/subcat.cfm?id=008

April

21,

2013,

from

Appendix:

KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

(Source: Department of Environment, 2008)

Class
CLASS I

Uses
Conservation of natural environment water supply I practically
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KNS 3621 Civil Engineering Laboratory 6

Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

CLASS IIA
CLASS IIB
CLASS III

CLASS IV
CLASS V

no treatment necessary.
Fishery I very sensitive aquatic species
Water Supply II conventional treatment required
Fishery II sensitive aquatic species
Recreational use with body contact
Water Supply III extensive treatment required
Fishery III common, of economic value and tolerant species
livestock drinking
Irrigation
None of above
(Source: Department of Environment, 2008)