Example 2.

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The BODs of a wastewater is 150mg/l at 20°c. The k value is known to be 0.23 per day. What
would BOD8 be, if the test was run at 15°?
Solution
Here, we will first clarify, that the given value of constant K, as equal to 0.23 per day, cannot be
the value of deoxygenation constant KD (on base 10), but it must be the rate constant (on base e)
which was symbolized by us as 'K', where, KD = 0.434 K. This is because of the reason that the
highest KD value at 20°c for strong municipal sewage is of the order of 0.1 to 0.15, or slightly less.
Hence, the given K value must be the value of K and not of KD.
Hence, at 20°c, we use
K = 0.23 (given)
KD = 0.434K
= 0.434*0.23 = 0.0998  0.1
Also BOD of 5 days = BOD5 = 150mg/l (at 20°c)
Using the equation
Yt = L ∗ (1 − 10−KD t )
Y5 = L ∗ (1 − 10−KD∗ 5 )
Where, Y5 = BOD of 5 days.
150 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−0.1∗5 )
150 150
L= = = 219.4mg/l
(1 − 10−0.1∗5 ) 0.684
or
Now, let us find KD value at 15°c
Using the equation
K D(T) = K D(20) ∗ 1.047T−20
K D(15) = 0.1 ∗ 1.04715−20 = 0.079
Now, again using
𝑌𝑡 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−𝐾𝐷 𝑡 )
Where, Yt is BOD of t days
We have
Y8 = 219.4 ∗ (1 − 10−0.079∗8 ) = 219.4 ∗ (1 − 0.233)

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 = 168.2mg/l
Hence, BOD8 = Y8 = 168.2mg/l.
Example 2.3
The 5 day 30°c BOD of sewage sample is 1l0mg/l. Calculate its 5 days 20°c BOD. Assume the
deoxygenation constant at 20°c K20 as 0.1.
Solution
KD(20º) = 0.1
Now, using the equation
K D(T) = K D(20) ∗ 1.047T−20
K D(30⁰) = 0.1 ∗ 1.04730−20 = 0.158

or
Now, using
Yt = L ∗ (1 − 10−KD t )
Y5 = L ∗ (1 − 10−KD ∗5 )
−KD(300 ) ∗5
Y5 at 30⁰ = L ∗ (1 − 10 )
110 = L ∗ (1 − 10−0.158∗5 )
110
L= = 131.3𝑚𝑔/𝑙
(1 − 10−0.158∗5 )
or L = 131.3 mg/l.
Now
Y5 at 20⁰ = L ∗ (1 − 10−KD(20⁰) ∗5 )
= 131.3 ∗ (1 − 10−0.1∗5 ) = 89.8mg/l
Example 2.4
Calculate 1 day 37ºc BOD of sewage sample whose 5 day 20°c BOD is 100 mg/l. Assume KD at
20°c as 0.1.
Solution
5 day 20°c BOD = 110 mg/l. (given)
Now using Eq. (7.16), we have
The BOD at 20°c, say after t = 5 days, is given by

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 −KD(200 ) ∗t
Y5 = L ∗ (1 − 10 )
100 = L ∗ (1 − 10−0.1∗5 )
100 100
L= −0.1∗5
= = 146.2mg/l
(1 − 10 ) 0.684
Now let us work out KD at 37°c, by using the equation:
K D(T) = K D(20) ∗ 1.047T−20
K D(37⁰) = 0.1 ∗ 1.04737−20 = 0.24
Now, we have to work out Yt for one day at 37°c, using
𝑌𝑡 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−𝐾𝐷 𝑡 )
𝑌1 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−𝐾𝐷 ∗1 )
𝑌1 𝑎𝑡 37⁰𝑐 = 146.2 ∗ (1 − 10−0.24∗1 ) = 62.07
Hence, Y1 at 37°C = 62.07mg/l

Example 2.5
The BOD5 of a waste has been measured as 600 mg/l. If K = 0.23/day (base e), what is the ultimate
BODu of the waste. What proportion of the BODu would remain unoxidised after 20 days.
Solution
Use eqn. (7.16) as:
𝑌𝑡 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−𝐾𝐷 𝑡 )
𝐾𝐷 = 0.434 ∗ 𝐾 = 0.434 ∗ 0.23 = 0.1
t = 5 days, we have
Y5 = BOD of 5 days = 600 mg/l
600 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−0.1∗5 )
600
L= = 877.5mg/l
(1 − 10−0.1∗5 )
Hence, the ultimate BOD = 877.5 mg/l
Now,
𝑌20 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−0.1∗20 )
𝑌20 = 𝑌𝑢 ∗ (1 − 10−0.1∗20 )

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 𝑌20 = 0.99𝑌𝑢
It means that 99% of BODu is utilized in 20 days, and hence only 1% of ultimate BOD would be
left unoxidized after 20 days.

Example 2.6
The following observations were made on a 3% dilution of waste water.
Dissolved oxygen (D. O.) of aerated water used for dilution = 3.0 mg/l
Dissolved oxygen (D. O.) of diluted sample after 5 days incubation = 0.8 mg/l
Dissolved oxygen (D. O.) of original sample = 0.6 mg/l.
Calculate the B.O.D. of 5 days and ultimate BOD of the sample assuming that the deoxygenation
coefficient at test temp. is 0.1.
Solution
The 100% content of the diluted sample consists of 3% wastewater and 97% of aerated water used
for dilution.
Hence, its DO = DO of waste water * its content + DO of dilution water * its content
= 0.6 ∗ 0.03 + 3.0 ∗ 0.97
= 0.018 + 2.91
= 𝟐. 𝟗𝟐𝟖 𝒎𝒈/𝒍
DO of the incubated sample after 5 days = 0.8mg/l
Thus, DO consumed in oxidizing organic matter = 2.928 - 0.8 = 2.128 mg/l
Therefore, BOD of 5 days = DO consumed * Dilution factor
100
= 2.128 ∗ = 70.93 𝑚𝑔/𝑙
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Ultimate B.O.D. is given by L. Using Eq. (7.16), we have

𝑌𝑡 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−𝐾𝐷 ∗𝑡 )
𝑌5 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−𝐾𝐷 ∗5 )
The value of KD at test temperature is given as 0.1. Substituting the known values in the above
equation, we have
70.93 = 𝐿 ∗ (1 − 10−0.1∗5 )
70.93
𝐿= = 103.7𝑚𝑔/𝑙
(1 − 10−0.1∗5 )