TABLE OF CONTENT

BIL CONTENT PAGE

1 INTRODUCTION 2
2 OBJECTIVE 3
3 APPARATUS / EQUIPMENT 4
4 PROCEDURE 5-7
5 RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS 8-10
6 DISSCUSION 11
7 RECOMMENDATION 12
8 CONCLUSION 13
9 APPENDIX 14

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD, also called biological oxygen demand) is the
amount of dissolved oxygen needed (i.e., demanded) by aerobic biological organisms to
break down organic material present in a given water sample at certain temperature over a
specific time period. The BOD value is most commonly expressed in milligrams of oxygen
consumed per litre of sample during 5 days of incubation at 20 °C and is often used as a
surrogate of the degree of organic pollution of water.

Most natural waters contain small quantities of organic compounds. Aquatic

microorganisms have evolved to use some of these compounds as food. Microorganisms
living in oxygenated waters use dissolved oxygen to oxidatively degrade the organic
compounds, releasing energy which is used for growth and reproduction. Populations of these
microorganisms tend to increase in proportion to the amount of food available. This microbial
metabolism creates an oxygen demand proportional to the amount of organic compounds
useful as food. Under some circumstances, microbial metabolism can consume dissolved
oxygen faster than atmospheric oxygen can dissolve into the water or the autotrophic
community (algae, cyanobacteria and macrophytes) can produce. Fish and aquatic insects
may die when oxygen is depleted by microbial metabolism.

BOD5 is the amount of DO used by microbes in 5 days to decompose organic

substances in water at 20o C. The BOD5 test involves taking two DO measurements: an initial
measurement when the test begins at time t=0 and a second measurement at t=5, after the
sample has been incubated in the dark for 5 days at 20o C. BOD5 Is the different between the
two DO measurements. If dilution of water sample is necessary, BOD5 is computed by using
the following equation (for dilution method in a 300 Ml BOD bottle):

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2.0 OBJECTIVES
1) Students are able to apply water quality measurement devices for monitoring
contaminants / pollutants concentration at a selected site.
2) Students are able to correctly perform BOD analyses for a given set of
wastewater samples.
3) Students are able to evaluate the BOD ratios for a given set of wastewater
samples.

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3.0 APPARATUS / EQUIPMENT
i. 500 Ml BOD Bottles (3-9 units for 3 sampling points)
ii. Stirring bar
iii. BOD sensor unit
iv. Under caps for alkaline absorber of carbon dioxide
v. Stirring equipment
vi. Incubator, capable of maintaining 20 ± 1̊ c
vii. 100 Ml BEAKER
viii. Micropipettes
ix. PH meter

REAGENT- 1.0 N sodium hydroxide and 1.0 N sulfuric acid solution

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4.0 PROCEDURES

No. Details work Picture

1 Measure pH value of the water sample by
using a pH meter.
(Sample pre-treatment is required if pH value
is not in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. if sample
pre-treatment is not required, proceed to step
3.)

2 Pre-treatment of samples.
(For sample with pH value less than 6.5,
bring pH between 6.5 and 7.5 by using 1.0 N
-
solutions of sulphuric acid.)
(The added volume of acid or base should
not exceed 0.5 % of sample volume.)
3 Fill the BOD bottles with 300 mL water
sample.

4 Insert a stirring bar in each of the BOD

bottle.

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5 Introduce the under cap into the BOD bottles.

6 Screw the BOD sensor unit on each bottle.

7 Start programming (BOD sensor unit).

8 Place the BOD bottles in the incubator on the

stirring equipment for 5 days.

9 At the end of 5 day, take out BOD bottles. Results

can be obtained from the BOD sensor unit

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5.0 DATA AND RESULTS ANALYSIS

SAMPLING POINT SAMPLE PH DO0(mg/L) DO5(mg/L)

ID

A 6.29 9.74 8.30

GROUP 1 B 6.41 9.78 8.20
(MY TEAM) C 6.51 9.77 7.95

Average 6.40 9.76 mg/L 8.15 mg/L

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 A 5.43 11.27 9.65
GROUP 2 B 6.04 11.25 9.83
(AMER) C 5.77 11.39 9.92

Average 5.75 11.30 mg/L 9.80 mg/L

A 6.05 10.96 8.13

GROUP 3 B 6.27 10.90 7.91
(NORA) C 6.33 10.96 7.79

Average 6.7 10.94 mg/L 7.94 mg/L

A 6.24 10.19 8.20

GROUP 4 B 6.30 10.28 8.98
(TEHAH) C 6.33 10.35 9.25

Average 6.29 10.94 mg/L 8.81 mg/L

BOD5 Calculations

Calculations Group 1

((9.76-8.15) x 300) / 300 =1.61 mg/L

Calculations Group 2

((11.30-9.80) x 300) /300 = 1.5 mg/L

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Calculations Group 3
((10.94-7.94) x 300) /300 =3 mg/L

Calculations Group 4
((10.94-8.81) x 300) /300 =2.1 mg/L

pH value Calculations

Calculations Group 1

6.29+6.41+6.51
pH =
3
= 6.40 mg/L

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Calculations Group 2
5.43+6.04+5.77
pH =
3
= 5.75 mg/L

Calculations Group 3

6.05+6.27+6.33
pH =
3
= 6.70 mg/L

Calculations Group 4

6.24+6.30+ 6.33
pH =
3
= 6.29 mg/L

6.0 DISCUSSIONS

After we done do this project, we learn about Principle. The method consists of filling
with sample, to overflowing, an airtight bottle of the specified size and incubating it at the
specified temperature for 5 d. Dissolved oxygen is measured initially and after incubation,
and the BOD is computed from the difference between initial and final DO. Because the
initial DO is determined shortly after the dilution is made, all oxygen uptake occurring after
this measurement is included in the BOD measurement.

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 The Sampling and storage Samples for BOD analysis may degrade significantly
during storage between collection and analysis, resulting in low BOD values. Minimize
reduction of BOD by analyzing sample promptly or by cooling it to near-freezing
temperature during storage. However, even at low temperature, keep holding time to a
minimum. Warm chilled samples to 20 ± 3oC before analysis.
To make sure the sample is representative of the water body must be aware from
unexpected incident. Samples should be taken in a clean plastic or glass container of
sufficient size to provide enough sample for all of the tests and the quantity of BOD bottles
that will be incubated for that sampling site.

7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
i. The sample must be test in the shortest time from the sample taken because to kept the
sample biodegradable organic material in the sample do not change much as it will
effect the results.

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 ii. Float the DO meter for at least two minutes before take the reading of PH and take the
constant or average number for an accurate reading.

8.0 CONCLUSIONS

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 It can be concluded that, the Biochemical Oxygen Demand will increase because of
the presents aerobic microorganisms. High Biochemical oxygen demand will give potential to
water pollution. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the oxygen used by
microorganisms to decompose this waste. BOD is a chemical procedure for determining the
rate of uptake of dissolved oxygen by the rate biological organisms in a body of water use up
oxygen. It is not a precise quantitative test, although it is widely used as an indication of the
quality of water.

The process requires five days. After five days, the data is collected and evaluated.
During this time, samples are initially seeded with microorganisms and supplied with a
carbon nutrient source of glucose-glutamic acid. The sample is then introduced to an
environment suitable for bacterial growth at reproducible temperatures, nutrient sources, and
light within a 20 degree Celsius incubator such that oxygen will be consumed. Quality
controls, standards and dilutions are also run to test for accuracy and precision.
Determination of the dissolved oxygen within the sample can be determined through
Winkler titration methods. The difference in initial DO readings (prior to incubation) and
final DO readings (after 5 days of incubation) predicts the BOD of the sample. A suitable
detection limit as per environmental QC is 1 mg/L.

9.0 APPENDIX

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