Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Briefly, the BOD test employs a bacterial seed to catalyze the oxidation of 300 mL
of full-strength or diluted wastewater. The strength of the un-diluted wastewater is
then determined from the dilution factor and the difference between the initial D.O.
and the final D.O.
BODt  DOi  DOf

BODt = (DOi – DOf) *D

Where BOD
BODt = biochemical oxygen demand at t days, [mg/L] Bottle
DOi = initial dissolved oxygen in the sample bottle, [mg/L]
DOf = final dissolved oxygen in the sample bottle, [mg/L]
D = Dilution Factor

D = Vb/Vs
Vb = sample bottle volume, usually 300 mL
Vs = sample volume, [mL]
1
Method for the measuring of BOD

BODt = UBOD (1-e-kt)

BODt = BOD after t days (mg/l)

UBOD = Ultimate BOD (mg/l)
k = BOD rate constant at particular temperature (day-1)
t = Time in days
Problem 1

Determine the 5‐day BOD for a 15 ml sample that is diluted

with dilution water to a total volume of 300 ml when the initial
DO concentration is 8 mg/l and after 5 days, has been
reduced to 2 mg/l.

BOD5 = (initial DO – Final DO) * dilution factor

BOD5 = (8 – 2) * (300/15)

BOD5 = 120 mg/l

Problem 2

A sample of wastewater has an ultimate BOD of 280mg/L and

a 5‐day BOD of 240mg/L. Calculate 10‐day BOD of this
sample.
BODt = UBOD (1-e-kt)
BOD5 = UBOD (1-e-k (5))
240 = 280 (1-e-k (5))
k = 0.39 day-1
BOD10 = 280 (1-e-0.39 (10))

BOD10 = 274 mg/l

 Problem 3
•A wastewater stream has a BOD of 4000 mg/L.
Calculate the flowrate of BOD (in kg/hr) if the
wastewater has a flowrate of 5000 m3/hr.
Assume, if necessary, the density of wastewater
as 1.05 gm/cm3
• Solution:
BOD Flowrate in kg/hr = (5000 m3/hr) x
(4000 mg/L) x
(1 kg/106mg)x(103L/1m3)=20,000kg/hr
kT = k20 Ɵ T‐20
b) Correct the k value for 150C

k15
kT ==k20
0.23 (1.04715‐20) = 0.18 d‐1
ƟT‐20

c) Calculate y8

y8 = 220 (1 ‐ e0.18x8) = 168 mg/L