Wastewater Treatment:

Design of Bar Rack & Grit

Chamber
Dr Zahiruddin Khan
11/08/2023 2
 Flow Measuring Devices Principle of Flow Measurement
Venturi meter The differential Pressure is measured
Flow Nozzle meter The differential Pressure is measured
Orifice Meter The differential Pressure is measured
Pitot Tubes The differential Pressure is measured
For Pressure Pipes

Electromagnetic Meter Magnetic field is induced and voltage is

measured
Rota meter Rise of float in a tapered tube is measured
Turbine meter A velocity driven rotational element is used
Ultrasonic Velocity The ultrasonic transducers send and receive
ultrasonic pressure pulses
Ultra Sonic Doppler The transducers transmit beams that are
reflected to a receiver by suspended solids
Elbow Meter Differential pressure is measured around a bend
Partial Flume Critical depth is measured at the flume
Weirs Head is measured over a weirs
For Open
Channels

Current meter Rotational element is used to measure velocity

Pitot Tube Differential pressure is measured
Depth Measurement Float is used to obtained depth of flow
 Flow Measurement
• Open Channels
• Flow in open channel = 0.6 x flow rate on the surface
• Flow using a current meter
• Use flow meter
• Flow over a circular, square or V shapes weir
0.4
 Q(m3 / hr )  Throat
Coefficient (C) Exponent (n)
Water head over V-notch for 90° angle= Hw = 1000    Width

 5000  1 in .338 1.55

2 in .676 1.55
• Class: Find Q, if Hw = 16 cm 3 in .992 1.55

• Flow over a partial flume = Q  C .H a

n 6 in
9 in
2.06
3.07
1.58
1.53
• Estimate flow from input pumping records 1 ft 3.95 1.55

• Determine flow from wastewater pumping system 1.5 ft 6.00 1.54

2 ft 8.00 1.55
3 ft 12.00 1.57
Example: Using the Parshall Flume free flow equation, determine the discharge of a
4 ft 16.00 1.58
72 inch flume with a depth, Ha of 3 feet (C= 24, n= 1.59 Q= 140 ft 3/sec.
5 ft 20.00 1.59
Class: Find Ha if Q = 200 ft3/Sec, Throat 48 in.
6 ft 24.00 1.59
 Designing Bar Screen / Rack
Purpose & Types:
 The purpose of bar rack / screens is to remove
large floating materials or large suspended
particles (> 1 to 2 inch size).
 These save the pumping machinery, used in the
treatment plant, from clogging and any damage.
 Screens consist of parallel bars, rods, wire mesh or
perforated plates.
 The opening may be of any shape (generally
rectangular)
 Mostly, BAR SCREENS or RACKS are used which are
either manually cleaned or mechanically cleaned.
 Opening between bars ½” - 1½” (10 mm to 40
mm)
 Bar Rack Design
Design Factors for Manually and Mechanically Cleaned Bar Racks

Design Factor Manually Mechanically

Cleaned Cleaned Standard Equations for Bar Rack Design
Velocity through racks (m/Sec) 0.3 – 0.6 0.6 – 1.0
Bar Size For Clean Bar Rack
Width (mm) 4-8 8 - 10
Depth (mm) 25 – 50 50 - 75
For partly clogged Bar Rack
Clear Spacing between Bars(mm) 25 - 75 10 - 50
Slope from Horizontal (Degrees) 45-60 75 - 85
Allowable head-loss, Clogged Screen, mm 150 150 For Fine screen
Head-loss, Clogged Screen, mm 800 800
 Designing Bar Screen / Rack
Problem: Design of Screening chamber and Grit Chamber
• Design screening chamber and grit chamber for a population of 100,000 persons with a water
consumption of 300 Lpcd. Take wastewater flow to be 80% of water supply. Assume necessary data.
• Solution:
• SCREENING CHAMBER:
• Design criteria for screens:
• 1. Bar size (10 mm x 30 mmm)
• 2. Spacing (10 mm to 40 mm)
• 3. Angle from vertical (45° to 60°)
• 4. Velocity through screens (0.9 to 1.2 m/sec)
• Note: Screening and Grit Chamber are designed on PEAK FLOW. Always take at least two bar
screens and two grit chambers. If one is being cleaned or closed for repair etc. then the function of
the treatment plant is not affected.
• Average wastewater flow =

• Let peaking factor= 3 (Use WASA design criteria to find peak factor)
• Peak flow=24000 x 3 = 72,000 m3/day (0.833 m3 /sec)
• Take two screening chambers. Thus flow for one chamber will be half i.e., 0.416 m 3 /sec
Therefore design flow = 0.416 m3/sec Inflow Pipes
Let dimension of bar in bar screen= 10mm (width) x 30 mm (depth) 450 mm
Let angle of inclination = 45°
Let bar spacing = 20 mm
Let Inflow pipe dia = 450 mm 0.5 m
Let free fall of sewage = 500 mm
Screens

Therefore total depth of fall = 0.45+0.5=0.95 m Screen Chamber

Let the velocity through bar rack = 1 m/sec

Clear area through screens (from Q=AV) =

Area 0.416
  0Clear
.437 mwidth of bar rack =
depth of flow 0.95
0.437  1000
 21
If space between bars is 20 mm then total no. of spaces for a clear width of opening of 0.437m = .8  22 Spaces
20
No. of bars = No. of spaces -1 = 22-1 = 21

Total width of bars = No. of bar x width of one bar = 21x10=210 mm=0.21 m

Bars are fixed on an angle iron frame of size 150 x 150 x 25 mm

Width of 2 angle iron frames 150x150x25 mm on both sides of bar rack = 0.15x2=0.3 m

Total width of bar rack = clear width of bars + width of bars + width of angle iron frame on both sides
=0.437+0.21+ 2(25/1000) =0.947(???) m

Total width of screen chamber= 0.947x2=1.894 m For 2

Bar Racks
Total length of screening chamber = 1+1+1.5=3.5 m

Length of chamber u/s of rack = 1 m (say)

Rack length = 1 m (actual length = 1.8 m)
Length of chamber d/s of rack = 1.5 m (say)
Total length of screening chamber = 1+1+1.5=3.5 m
1m u/s 1m 1.5m d/s

Note: Allowable head losses through screen < 0.15 m

Allowable head loss =

v = approach velocity of sewage in the screening chamber (it is usually the self-cleansing velocity of sewage in the
pipe which is 0.6 m/sec)
V= velocity through screen, 1 m/sec
g= 9.8 m/sec2 Put values in above equation
EXAMPlE 5-1 (Metcal & Eddy)
Headloss Buildup in Coarse Screens
Determine the buildup of head loss through a bar screen when 50 percent of the flow area is blocked off due to the
accumulation of coarse solids. Assume the following conditions apply:
Approach velocity = 0.6 m/s
Velocity through clean bar screen = 0.9 m/s
Open area for flow through clean bar screen = 0.19 m2
Head-loss coefficient for a Clean bar screen = 0.7

Solution:
1. Compute the clean water head-loss through bar screen using Eq . 5-1

2. Estimate the head loss through the clogged bar screen (reducing the screen area by 50 percent results in a
doubling of the velocity). The velocity through the clogged bar screen is Vc = 0.9 m/s X 2 = 1.8 m/s

Assuming the flow coefficient for the clogged bar screen is approximately 0.6,
the estimated headloss is

Comment: Where mechanically cleaned coarse screens are used, the cleaning mechanism typically is actuated by the buildup
of headloss. Headloss is determined by measuring the water level before and after the screen. In some cases, the screen is cleane
at pre-determined time intervals, as well as at a maximum head differential.
GRIT CHAMBER
Grit Chamber
Designed on peak flow
Take two grit chamber (normally at least two grit chamber are design; in case of cleaning of one
grit chamber, the other keeps functioning and the normal plant working is not affected)
Design flow for one grit chamber= 0.416 m3/sec
Take velocity of flow in grit chamber = 0.3 m/sec (S.R. Qasim)
Area required = Take width = 2x depth i.e., W=2D So Area =A= W x D

A = 2DxD = 2D2 Therefore D = Add a free board of 0.5 m

Total depth of grit chamber including free board = 0.83+0.5 = 1.33 m

Width of G. C = 2xD = 2x0.83=1.66 m Size of G.C= Width x Total Depth=1.66 x 1.33 m
Length of grit chamber
Let particle size = 0.2 mm to be removed Specific gravity (say) = 2
Settling velocity is given by Stoke’s law as below
Take n at 20oC) = 0.0216 m/sec
 TYPES OF GRIT CHAMBER

Vortex Type GC are becoming popular due to their efficiency in

removing fine grit at a reasonable cost
4. Detritus Tanks: Square type Grit Chamber which allow to settle
some Organics and some suspended particles. Organics are returned
into the influent line. Grit and SS are collected.
Time of particle to settle a wastewater depth of 0.83 m = H/ Vv =
Horizontal velocity = VH = 0.3 m/sec
Horizontal travel of particle = S= VH x T = 0.3 x 39 = 11.7 m
Add 20% as factor of safety = 11.7 + 2.34 = 14.04 m i.e., Length of Grit Chamber = 14.0 m
Hydraulic slope of grit chamber Wetted perimeter= Width + 2x Depth of flow
Using Manning’s equation: = 1.66+2 x 0.83 = 3.32 m

n=Manning’s Constant for RCC = 0.013

R= Hydraulic mean depth=

Substituting values in Manning's equation S=0.007 m/m

Total length of grit chamber= 14 m

Drop in grit chamber = 14 x 0.007=0.098 m

 Grit Chamber Design
• Poor Performance of Grit Chamber may be due to:
• Horizontal velocity less than 0.3 m/sec may deposit grit at the bottom of GC
• Improper baffle location causing short circuiting
• Unsteady and Irregular Supply of air to diffusers of Aerated Grit Chamber
• Improper location of Diffusers
• Tanks dimensions not supporting theoretical design

• Design Criteria
• Design Flow = Max or Peak flow
• Peaking Factor= 2.5 – 3.0
• Tank Length (L) = 3 -25 m
• Liquid Depth (D) = 0.6 – 1.5 m
• Detention Time = 30 – 90 Sec (Usually 60 Sec)
• Flow through Velocity (VH)= 0.2 – 0.4 m/sec (Normally 0.3 m/Sec)
• Settling Velocity = 0.016 – 0.021 m/Sec when Dia =0.2 mm less for smaller particles
• Overflow rate = 1200 – 1700 m3/m2-Day
• Grit Quantity = 0.22 – 0.2 m3/1000 m3 flow
Example: Design of Aerated Grit Chamber: Design an aerated grit chamber for the treatment of
municipal wastewater. The average flow rate is 0.5 m3 /Sec. Use a Peaking Factor = 2.75; Two Grit Chambers;
Average Detention Time = 3 min; Depth : Width = 1.5:1; Air Requirements= 0.3 m 3/min-m
Grit Rate = 0.05 m3 /103 m3 at peak flow

Solution:
Given: Average Flow Rate = 0.5 m3 /Sec (a) Therefore Peak Flow Rate = 2.75 x 0.5 = 1.38 m3/Sec
(b) Determine Volume of the Grit Chamber?
Volume of the Grit Chamber = Q * T = 1.38 m3/Sec x 3 (Det. Time) x 60 Sec/min = 248.4 m 3
Use Two GCs; Volume of each GC = 248.4 /2 = 124.2 m 3

© Now Determine Dimensions of each Grit Chamber ; Assume Width : Depth = 1.5:1 Say Depth = 3 meter
Therefore Width = 4.5 m; Therefore Length = ? L x W x D = Volume or L = 124.2 /(3 x 4.5) = 9.2 m

(d) Determine the Detention Time for Average Flowrate per Chamber
T= Volume/Q Therefore T = (3 x 4.5 x 9.2)/ (0.5 m 3 .Sec-1 ) T = 4.14 min
(e) Determine the Air Requirement: Assuming 0.3 m3/min-m length of the GC
Air Required (on Length Basis) for each GC = 9.2 m x 0.3 m 3/min-m = 2.76 m3/min
Total Air Required for both CGs = 2 x 2.76 = ------- m3/min

(f) Grit Volume = (1.38 m3/Sec) x (86400 Sec/day) x (0.05 m3 / 103 m3 ) = 5.96 m3/day
 SEDIMENTATION
Dr Zahiruddin Khan
NUML Rawalpindi

19/11/09 17
11/08/2023 18
 SEDIMENTATION
DEFINITION
A solid-Liquid separation process that utilizes gravity settling to remove suspended solids

• CLASSES
• TYPE-I or DISCRETE SETTLING ....Plain sed., Grit removal etc.
• TYPE-II or DIFFERENTIAL / FLOCCULANT SETTLING
• 1o Clarifier in WW Treatment and Sed. Tanks in Water Treatment
• TYPE-III or ZONE SETTLING - 2o Clarifier in WW Treatment
• TYPE- IV or COMPRESSION SETTLING - 2o Clarifier in WW Treatment

• TYPES of Settling Basins

• CONVENTIONAL SETTLING BASINS
• TUBE SETTLERS
• LAMELLA PLATES

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FLOW PATTERNS IN RECTANGULAR SEDIMENTATION TANK

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 SEDIMENTATION-GENERAL
• Sed. basins are usually R.C.C, circular, square or rectangular in plan view

• Circular – Dia = 15 – 300 ft

• = 35 – 150 ft Most common
• Depth = 5 – 20 ft deep
• =10 – 14 Ft Most common
•
• Dia with 5ft intervals

• Square Tanks
Width = 35 – 200 ft
• Depth = 5 – 20 ft
• 5 ft interval size

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 IDEAL BASIN THEORY
• Flow is horizontal
• Settling is discrete – Type-I settling
• There is an even distribution of flow in and out
• 4–Zones: inlet, settling, sludge, outlet
• Uniform distribution of particles throughout the
depth
• Particles in the sludge zone, settling zone &
outlet zone are removed
• Vo = Velocity of the smallest particle that is 100
% removed

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 SEDIMENTATION THEORY
• Detention Time-t = H / Vo

• t = Volume/Q = L.W.H/Q

Also Det Time = t = L/VH

Comparing

t = Volume/Q = L.W.H/Q= H/ Vo………………….Vo = H. Q/L.H.W = Q/L.W

But L.W = Plane Area of the basin AP

• Vo = Q/ AP = gpd/ft2

Vo = Overflow Rate = Gallon/Day-ft2 30

31
 Quiz-1: 02/10/23 Env. Eng.-II Time Allowed: 15 min
1. Write 4 major pollutants of municipal wastewater.

2. Calculate the design flow required for a bar-rack if 100 LPCD is provided to
100,000 residents. Use peaking factor of 2.75.

3. Determine the length of a grit chamber with detention time of 120 Sec. Use the
standard flow velocity through the Grit chamber.

4. What are 4 types of Grit Chamber.

5. Draw a schematic of a Standard wastewater treatment plant and label its

components.
 SEDIMENTATION
I - Discrete Settling/Free Settling
• Settling results from two forces
• Fg = Fb + Fd or Fd = Fg – Fb = (ρs - ρw ) gV
Where V = Volume of a particle
But
• FD (Drag Force) = FD = ½.CDAc ρVs2
Fb = ρwVg FD = ½.CDAc ρVs2
Comparing
• (ρs - ρw ) g V = ½.CDAc ρVs2
• Vs = [(2g(ρs - ρw ).V)/(CD Ac ρw)]1/2

• V = π d3/6 Ac = πd2/4

• Vs = [(4g(ρs - ρw ).d/(3CD ρw)]1/2 Fg= W= ρsVg

Vs = [(4g(Ss - 1).d/(3CD )]1/2

CD = 24/NR For Laminar flow i.e., NR <1.0 (NR = ρ Vs D/μ)

CD = 24/NR + 3/(NR)1/2 + 0.34 For Transitional Flows

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CD = 0.4 For Turbulent Flows
 DISCRETE SETTLING
Assumptions
• All particles with settling velocities > Vo will be V V
100% removed irrespective of their size and H Vo
point of entry. H2
V2
V
V1
● Particles with velocity V< Vo may or may not be
removed. Their removal depends upon their size,
settling velocity and point of entry
Fraction of ‘such’ particles (V< Vo) removed
R = H2/H =V2/Vo
• A column test about % removal and settling
velocity gives a good idea.
• Fraction Removed =
• R= 1-Fo + [V1/Vo]dF1 +[V2/Vo]dF2+….
• R = 1-Fo + ∫ V/VodF
• Where 1-F0 = fraction of particles with V> Vo
• ∫ V/VodF = fraction of particles with V< Vo
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 DISCRETE SETTLING

Example Find out the % removal from the given data:

Vo = 0.2 cm/min

Particle Size (μm) 100 80 70 60 50

%Distribution 10 20 30 30 10

Settling Velocity 0.3 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.10

(cm/min)

R = 10% + 20% + 30% +(0.15/0.2)x30% + (0.1/0.2) x 10%

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Designing of a primary Sedimentation Basin:
The average flow rate at a municipal wastewater treatment plant is 20K m3/day. The highest observed peak daily
flow rate is 2.5 times the average flow rate. Design a rectangular primary clarifier with a channel width of 6 meter.
Use 2 clarifiers. Calculate the scour velocity, to examine if the settled material will get resuspended. Estimate the
BoD and TSS removal al average and peak flow. Use an overflow rate of 40 m3 / m2 -day at average flow and a side
water depth of 4 meter. (R = t/ a+ bt)

Area = Length x Width

Length = 500 / 2(6)

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Problem
Design a circular primary sedimentation tank for a community having a population of 50,000 persons with an
average water consumption of 200 lpcd. Use SOR = 20m/d, detention time = 3 hour,
weir loading rate = 250 m3/m-day. Use at least two units.

Solution
Clean Water Supply = 50,000 x 200 lpcd x 1/1000 m 3/L = 10,000 m3/Day
Wastewater flow = Q= 0.8 x 10000 =8000 m3/d
SOR (Surface Overflow Rate = Q/A) = 20 m/d
Surface area “A” = Q/SOR = 8000/20 = 400 m2
Take two units Area of one unit = 400/2 = 200 m 2
A = (πD2)/4 = D = √200 x 4/π = 15.96 m Say D = 16 m

Take diameter of circular drum at the inlet = 15-20 % of diameter of tank (Metcalf & Eddy; page 401).
Depth of circular drum is 1 to 2.5 m.
Diameter of circular drum @ 15% of the Tank Dia = 15 x 16/100 = 2.4 m

Total Volume of sedimentation tank = Q x Detention time = 4000 x 3 /24 = 500 3m

Therefore Depth = 500/200 = 2.5 m
Adopt Basin depth as 3 m depth to avoid scouring effect, excluding hopered portion.
Basin Size = 16 m dia and 3 m deep
Weir loading rate = 250 m3/m 40
Therefore Weir Length = (4000 m3/day)/(250 m3/m-day) = 16 meter
Weir length for one tank = = 16 m
Normally V-notches are provided in circular sedimentation tanks. Take center to
center distance of V-notch = 250 mm
No. of V-notches = 16 x 1000 mm/250 mm =64 No.
Flow through each V-notch = (4000 m3/day) /64 = 62.5 m3/day = 2.6 m3/hr

Water head over V-notch for 90° angle= Hw =

=
= 48.5 mm; say 50 mm

Depth of V-notch adopted = 75 mm

Please see section 5-7

of Metcalf & Eddy for
more details.

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 Type-III & Type-IV Settling
• Zone or Hindered Settling
• Compression Settling

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 Designing Final Clarifier
• Draw Time vs Height of interface curve
• Determine the slope of the hindered settling region, Vo. This is the settling velocity required for clarification
• Extend tangents from the hindered settling region and compression settling region and bisect the angle formed at point 1.
• Draw tangent to the curve at point 1
• Knowing the initial sludge concentration, Co, and the initial interface height Ho, select a design overflow concentration, C u – SS conc. in the
wasted or recycled sludge, and determine the ultimate height of the sludge interface as Hu.
• Cu Hu = Co Ho or Hu = (Co.Ho)/Cu
• Draw a horizontal from the Hu to intersect the tangent line and determine the time, tu, required to reach the desired underflow
concentration, Cu
• Determine the area required for thickening
• At = 1.5(Q + R)tu/Ho
• Where
• Q = flow in the aeration tank prior to junction with the recycled sludge line
• R = Recycled sludge flow
• Q+R = Total flow to the final clarifier
• 1.5 = Scale up factor

• Determine the area required for clarification, Ac, from

• Ac = 2 [Q/Vo]
• Where
• Q = Flow to the aeration tank prior to junction with the recycled sludge line
• 2 = Scale-up factor 44
 Example
• A final clarifier is to be designed for an activated sludge plant having a design
flow of 2 mgd. Results of batch settling tests are given below:
• T (min) H
• 0 2.13
• 5 2.05
• 12 1.35 The design MLSS is 2500 and the design
• 21 1.18 underflow concentration is 10,000 mg/L.
• 25 1.05 Determine
• 28 0.85 The area required for clarification
• 30 0.8 The area required for thickening
• 36 0.72 The design dia
• 41 0.68
• 45 0.625
• 60 0.55
• 75 0.51
• 90 0.48 45
 Assignment#2 Due 16th Oct. 2023

Q-1: Draw Schematic of a Standard Wastewater Treatment Plant and Label its components.
Q-2: What criteria is used for Locating a wastewater treatment plant in an urban setting.
Q-3. Settling characteristics of a concentrated suspension~ C = 3000 mg/t were determined in a laboratory study. The
suspension was settled in a column 100‑centimeters high, and the height of the interface h, was recorded
• with time
• Time, minutes h,cm
• 0 100
• 5 79
• 10 60
• 15 38
• 20 23
• 25 15
• 30 12
• 35 9
• 40 8
• 50 7.5
• Calculate the area required to achieve clarification and to yield a thickened sludge concentration of 25,000 mg/f‑ for an
influent flow rate of 5 mgd. 46
 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
• BoD determination is a chemical procedure for determining the amount of
dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic organisms in a water body to break the
organic materials present in the given water sample at certain temperature
over a specific period of time.
• BOD of water or polluted water is the amount of oxygen required for the
biological decomposition of dissolved organic matter to occur under
standard condition at a standardized time and temperature. Usually, the
time is taken as 5 days and the temperature is 20°C.
• The test measures the molecular oxygen utilized during a specified
incubation period for the biochemical degradation of organic material
(carbonaceous demand) and the oxygen used to oxidize inorganic material
such as sulfides and ferrous ion. It also may measure the amount of oxygen
used to oxidize reduced forms of nitrogen (nitrogenous demand).
 BoD Determination Procedure
1. Take Three 300 ml glass BOD bottles (two for the sample and one for the blank).
2. Add 10 ml of the sample to each of the two BOD bottles and the fill the remaining quantity with the dilution
water. i.e., we have diluted the sample 30 times.
3. The remaining BOD bottle is for blank, to these bottles add dilution water alone.
4. After the addition immediately place the glass stopper over the BOD bottles and note down the numbers of the
bottle for identification.
5. Now preserve one blank solution bottle and one sample solution bottle in a BOD incubator at 20ºC for five days.
6. The other two bottles (one blank and one sample) needs to be analyzed immediately.
7. Avoid any kind of bubbling and trapping of air bubbles.
8. Add 2mL of manganese sulfate to the BOD bottle by inserting the calibrated pipette just below the surface of the
liquid.
9. Add 2 ml of alkali-iodide-azide reagent in the same manner. (The pipette should be dipped inside the sample
while adding the above two reagents. If the reagent is added above the sample surface, you will introduce oxygen
into the sample.)
10. Allow it to settle for sufficient time in order to react completely with oxygen. When this floc has settled to the
bottom, shake the contents thoroughly by turning it upside down.
11. Add 2 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid via a pipette held just above the surface of the sample.
12. Carefully stopper and invert several times to dissolve the floc.
13. Titration needs to be started immediately after the transfer of the contents to Erlenmeyer flask.
 BoD Determination Procedure
14. Measure out 203 ml of the solution from the bottle and transfer to an
Erlenmeyer flask.
15. Titrate the solution with standard sodium thiosulphate solution until the
yellow color of liberated Iodine is almost faded out. (Pale yellow color)
16. Add 1 ml of starch solution and continue the titration until the blue color
disappears to colorless.
17. Note down the volume of sodium thiosulphate solution added, which gives the
D.O. in mg/L.
18. Repeat the titration for concordant values.
19. After five days, take out the bottles from the BOD incubator and analyze the
sample and the blank for DO.
20. Repeat the titration for concordant values.
CALCULATIONS
 Experiment #14: Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD)
• What is COD?
• COD is a measure of the oxygen equivalent of the organic matter in a water
sample that is susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant.
• The COD test of natural water yields the total quantity of oxygen that is required
for oxidation of a waste to carbon dioxide and water (McCutcheon et al. 1993).
• In a BOD test, only biologically reactive carbon is oxidized while in a COD test, all
organic matter is converted to carbon dioxide.
• The test for COD does not identify the oxidizable material or differentiate
between the organic material and inorganic material present. Similarly, it does
not indicate the total organic carbon present. Consequently, the COD values are
higher compared to BOD.
• the COD test can be performed in 3 hours against 5 days required for a BOD5 test.
1. Take 2.5 mL water sample in a Tube and 2.5 ML of distilled water in another tube
2. Add 1.5 mL of Potassium Dichromate Solution to both tubes

3. Carefully add 3.5 mL of Sulphuric Acid reagent to both tubes

4. Tightly close the tubes and place in COD Digester at 150 oC for 2 hours

5. After cooling to room temperature transfer the contents to the conical flask

6. Fill the burette with freshly prepared 0.25N FAS Solution

7. Add two drops of Ferro-ion Indicator

8. Titrate the contents against FAS Sol

9. Continue the titration till the color changes to reddish brown

10. Calculate the COD Concentration (Volume of FAS used = V1
11. Repeat Step 5 to 10 for Distilled water as well and measure the volume FAS used as V2

COD (mg/L) = (V1-V2) x N x 8 x 1000/mL of Sample