CMT 565 :WASTE AND WASTEWATER

TECHNOLOGY

Experiment No :5
Title : BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
Name : Nur Hazirah Binti Kuek
Group No :7
Date of experiment : 28th March 2018
EXPERIMENT 5 : BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)

Objective:

To determine reading BOD in wastewater sample.

Data:

Initial DO(Day 1) Final DO(Day 5) T(℃)

Blank (mg/L) 4.95 mg/L 1.54 mg/L 29.98℃
Sample(mg/L) 4.96 mg/L 1.50 mg/L 29.22℃

Calculation :

BOD5 = D1-D2 / P

= (4.96-1.50)/(5/300)

= 207.60 mg//L

Result :

Volume of sample(mL) BOD reading(mg/L)

5.0 207.60

Questions :

1. Describe what does the BOD test measure.

BOD is a chemical procedure for determining the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by
aerobic biological organisms in a body of water to break down organic material present in a
given water sample at certain temperature over specific time period.

2. Why is it important to remove all bubbles in the BOD bottle during the BOD experiment?

To prevent excess oxygen in our sample that make an error of DO reading that will be taken.
Discussion :

In this experiment we can determine the BOD reading of water sample by taking Dissolved
Oxygen(DO) reading initial and final. BOD (Biochemical oxygen demand) measures the
amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms when decomposing organic matter. The
BOD test consists of an initial and final DO reading. There are several factors that can affect
accurate initial and final readings. For greatest success in BOD test, ensure that the probe is
cared for and used properly, the instrument is properly calibrated, and good lab practises are
always followed.

BOD bottle was placed in incubator for five days. We want our sample kept in the dark place
to prevent sunlight that cause photosynthesis. Incubator is a good choice because a sample
stay is in control condition.

BOD reading that we was obtained for 5 mL water sample in this experiment is 207.60 mg/L/.
Dissolved Oxygen(DO) was drop 3.46 mg/L which is from 4.96 mg/L to 1.50 mg/L after five
days kept in incubator. The remaining un-depleted DO is 1.50 mg/L.

The BOD blank( a BOD bottle full of dilution water containing only the required nutrients, but
not the seed) must not show a DO, or dissolved oxygen, depletion of more than 0.2 mg/L after
the five day incubation period. A drop of more than 0.2 mg/L indicates some type of
contamination or calibration error.

The seed, or the microoganisms added to disinfected wastewater effluent samples to break
down the organic compounds, should contribute 0.6 to 1.0 mg/L DO uptake per BOD bottle.

According to Lagoon Systems in Maine , sample dilutions should about a 50% DO decrease
after the 5-days incubation period. At a minimum, there should be at least a 2.0 mg/L DO
change between initial and final reading. There should be a residue DP of at least 1.0 mg/L.

BOD test is only measure the biodegradable organics. Not applicable to non biodegradable
organics such as tannic, lignic acids, cellulose, humus, etc. The test does not work when toxic
chemicals present. Inconsistent number of microbe in each testing. Toxic chemicals may kill
the microbe.Time consuming took five days for the result. After 5 days, there are no microbes
to decompose the organic matter.Therefore, BOD test cannot be determine that give not valid
result. Less microbes, less BOD results.

Blank sample consist of only the dilution water are conducted as a correction for the loss of
the DO due to the other factor. Final DO for blank is drop too much. Usually DO final and
initial for blank is consistent. But DO meter in this experiment is not calibrate. It is totally wrong
that blank will drop. Blank is drop like sample will not loss oxygen because no organic matter
contain for microbes to decompose.

Conclusion :

The BOD reading for wastewater sample is 207.60 mg/L. There are many organic matter
contain in wastewater sample due the loss of 3.46 mg/L dissolved oxygen(DO) in sample.

References:

Lagoon Systems in Maine. BOD Test requirement. Retrievel April,04,2018 from

www.lagoonsonline.com/laboratory-article/bodtest.htm

University of Georgia Extension. Understanding Laboratory Watewater

Tests:Organics(BOD,COD,TOC,O&G). Retrievel April,04,2018 from
extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html

Choudary,A. Determination of Biological Oygen Demand(BOD) in wastewater.

Pharmaceutical Guidelines. Retrievel April,04,2018 from
https://www.pharmaguideline.com/2013/06/determination-of-biological-oxygen.html?m=1