Submitted by: - Tashfeen Tajummal (360893)

Submitted to: - Dr. Hira Amjad

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is a measurement of the amount of material that can
be oxidized (combined with oxygen) in the presence of a strong chemical oxidizing agent. It
is expressed as mg/L, which shows mg of oxygen used per liter of sample.

Principle

The chemical oxygen demand (COD) determines the amount of oxygen required for chemical
oxidation of organic matter using a strong chemical oxidant, such as, potassium dichromate
under reflux conditions. ... The amount of dichromate consumed is proportional to the oxygen
required to oxidize the oxidizable organic matter.

Chemicals and Apparatus

COD vials, Pipette, Sulfuric acid, Mercuric sulfate, Silver sulfate, Ferrous ammonium
sulphate (FAS), Ferroin indicator and Potassium dichromate

Methodology

 Take 2.5 mL sample in one tube and 2.5 mL distilled water in another

 Add 1.5 mL K2Cr2O7 reagent

 Add 3.5 mL H2SO4 reagent

 Cap the vials and put it in the digester for 2hrs at 150oC

 After digestion, allow the tubes to cool and then transfer the contents to titration flask

 Add ferroin indicator

 Titrate it against FAS

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Calculations

The readings for the blank are;

No. Initial Burette reading (ml) Final Burette reading (ml) Difference (ml)

I 11.1 19.1 8

Difference = 8ml

The reading for sample is;

No. Initial Burette reading (ml) Final Burette reading (ml) Difference (ml)

I 19.1 25.4 6.3

Difference is 6.3ml.

For the calculation of normality the given formula has been used;

N1V1 = N2V2

N (8) = (0.1)(1.5)

N = 0.0187

By putting the values in the formula we have obtained our results.

COD (mg/L) = (A-B) ×N×8000/ mL of samples

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 =(8-6.3)×0.0187×8000/2.5

=101.728mg/L

Total COD present in the given water sample is 101.728mg/L.

Where:

A = mL of titrant used for Blank

B = mL of titrant used for Sample

N = normality of ferrous ammonium sulfate (FAS) = 0.0187N

8000 = Equivalent Wt. of Oxygen x 1000

Discussion

 The experiment was performed successfully and COD values have been determined in the
above table. When titrating, be certain that the burette is clean and free of air
bubbles.COD is an important rapidly measured variable for the approximate
determination of the organic matter content of water samples.

 The organic matter in the sample gets oxidized by K2Cr2O7 in the presence of Sulfuric
acid under specific conditions of temperature and time. The remaining K2Cr2O7 is
determined by titrating it against Ferrous Ammonium Sulphate (FAS). The amount of di-
chromate consumed is equivalent to amount of oxygen required for oxidation

Environmental Significance

Access the strength of It is useful to access strength of wastes, which contain toxins and
waste biologically resistant organic substances.

Amenability of waste The ratio of BOD and COD is useful to assess the amenability of
waste for biological treatment.

Control to sewer COD values are particularly important in surveys designed to

systems determine and control the losses to sewer system.

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Precautions

 Don’t pour vial contents into flask immediately after digestion.

 If the color changes to green after adding dichromate, then dilute the sample further.

References

 Azbar, N. U. R. İ., Yonar, T., & Kestioglu, K. (2004). Comparison of various advanced
oxidation processes and chemical treatment methods for COD and color removal from a
polyester and acetate fiber dyeing effluent. Chemosphere, 55(1), 35-43.

 Drinkwater, K. F. (2005). The response of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to future climate
change. Ices journal of marine science, 62(7), 1327-1337.
 Mamais, D., Jenkins, D., & Prrr, P. (1993). A rapid physical-chemical method for the
determination of readily biodegradable soluble COD in municipal wastewater. Water
research, 27(1), 195-197.

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