Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) Significance of COD

Definition: BOD is defined as, “the amount of free oxygen required by bacteria for the 1. Determination of COD is carried out only in 3 hours, but determination of BOD is
biological oxidation of the organic matter under aerobic condition at 20oC for a period of 5 carried out after 5 days.
days” 2. It measures both the biologically oxidizable and biologically inert organic matter

Determination of BOD Comparison of BOD and COD

 A known volume of sewage sample is diluted with a known volume of dilute water. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
 The diluted sample of known volume is taken in two stopper bottles (bottle 1 and 1. It may be defined as the amount of oxygen 1. It may be defined as the amount of oxygen
bottle 2). used for biochemical oxidation by required by organic matter in a sample of
 The dissolved oxygen content of bottle-1 is determined as blank. The bottle-2 is microorganisms in a unit volume of water. water for its oxidation by a strong chemical
incubated at 20OC for 5 days, after which unused dissolved oxygen is determined. oxidant and is expressed as ppm of oxygen
 The difference between the original oxygen content in the blank and unused oxygen taken from a solution of potassium
of sewage after 5 days gives the BOD dichromate in 2 hours
BOD5 = (Dob – Doi) x Dilution factor mg/l 2. As BOD value approximates the amount of 2. This value has been a poor measure of
where oxidizable organic matter, it is therefore, strength of organic matter as oxygen also get
Dob = Dissolved oxygen present in the blank before incubation (bottle-1) used as a measure of degree of water consumed in the oxidation of inorganic
Doi = Dissolved oxygen present in the sewage after incubation (bottle-2) pollution and waste strength matter such as nitrates, sulphates, reduced
metal ions, and also that some organic
Significance of BOD materials like benzene, pyridine and few
other cyclic organic compounds do not get
1. It indicates the amount of decomposable organic matter present in the sewage oxidized by this test
2. It enables us to determine the degree of pollution at any time 3. BOD values have been useful in process 3. It has a very important parameter in
3. Lesser the BOD better is the quality of water, i.e. the water sample with BOD design and loading calculations, measure of management and design of the treatment
of less than 3 ppm is considered as pure water, whereas the water more than 4 treatment efficiency and operation, steam plants due to its rapidity in determination.
ppm is considered as polluted water. pollution control and in evaluating self Values are taken as basis for calculation of
purification capacity of a stream efficiency of treatment plants and also figure
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in the standards for discharging industrial
Definition: COD is defined as, “the measure of amount of oxygen required to chemically domestic effluents in various kinds of waters
oxidise all the oxidizable impurities present in the sewage using an oxidising agent like 4. Types of microorganisms, pH, presence of 4. Presence of toxins and other such
acidified K2Cr2O7” toxins, some reduced mineral matter and unfavorable conditions for the growth of
nitrification process have been the microorganisms are not able to affect COD
Determination of COD important factors that influence the BOD values.
 A known volume of wastewater (sewage) sample is refluxed with a known excess of test
K2Cr2O7 in a dilute H2SO4 in the presence of Ag2SO4 and HgSO4.
 The organic matter of the sample is oxidised to H2O, CO2 and NH3.
 The excess unreacted K2Cr2O7 in the solution is titrated with a standard solution of
ferrous ammonium sulphate.
 Let the volume of FAS = V1 ml
 A blank titration is also carried out using the same volume of distilled water in place
of sewage.
 Let the volume of FAS = V2 ml

COD = (V2 – V1) x N x 8 x 1000/ X mg/l

V1 = Volume of FAS consumed by sewage
V2 = Volume of FAS consumed by blank
N = Normality of FAS
X = Volume of sewage sample

~1~ ~2~