ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY

CEW545
OPEN-ENDED LAB
October 2022- February 2023

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 30 NOVEMBER 2022

GROUP : PEC2217C2

GROUP MEMBERS :1.MUHD ZHARIF ASYRAN BIN MUHD HAFIZ STEPHEN

2.NUR AMIRAH NAJWA BINTI HISHAM
3.AINNUR MARDHIAH BINTI AHMAD ALJUFERY
4.NURINA HAZIQAH BINTI MOHD IDRIS
5.NUR SYAHIRAH BINTI MOHAMAD SUHAIMI

LECTURER : DR. SALINA BINTI ALIAS

LEVEL OF OPENESS :2
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
2.0 OBJECTIVE 1
3.0 APPARATUS 1
4.0 PROCEDURE 2
5.0 RESULT AND ANALYSIS 3
6.0 DISCUSSION 4-5
7.0 CONCLUSION 5
8.0 REFERENCES 6
9.0 APPENDIX 7
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The amount of oxygen required by microorganisms in the process of degrading organic matter
in stream water is measured by the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). BOD monitors
inorganic matter's chemical oxidation as well (i.e. the extraction of oxygen from water via
chemical reaction). The test is used to determine how much oxygen these organisms consumed
over a certain amount of time (usually 5 days at 20 C). Temperature, pH, the type of
microorganisms present, as well as the type of organic and inorganic material in the water, all
have an impact on the rate of oxygen consumption in a stream.

2.0 OBJECTIVES
1. To measure the concentration of BOD in water sample.
2. To analyze data and interpret the results of the BOD experiment.

3.0 APPARATUS
i. Beaker
ii. Conical flask (250 ml)
iii. Burette
iv. Dropper
v. Funnel
vi. Retort stand
vii. Cylinder measurement
viii. BOD Bottles
ix. BOD Incubator
x. DO Meter
xi. Dilution water container
xii. Volumetric flask 1000 mL

REAGENTS

i. Magnesium Sulphate
ii. Alkaline iodide-azide solution
iii. Starch soluble
iv. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
v. Sodium thiosulphate

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4.0 PROCEDURE

i. Sodium thiosulphate is transferred into the burette and initial readings are taken from
the burette.
ii. Add 50 mL of water sample and dilute water put into volumetric flask (1000 mL), then
swirled until combine.
iii. The sample was put into the BOD bottles for day 1 and day 5 until 300 mL of the
maximum capacity each. Then, BOD bottles for day 5 sample was put into the
incubator.
vi. For day 1, using dropper, 1 mL of Magnesium Sulphate and 1 mL Alkali iodide-azide
solution was put into the sample BOD bottle.
iv. The sample was shake until it turns three-quarters for 2 times.
vii. Using a dropper, 1 mL of Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) solution were transferred into a BOD
bottle. Then, shake until dissolved.
v. 201 mL of sample was transferred into the conical flask. The sample is titrated until it
changes to pale yellow color. The readings was recorded from the burette.
viii. 1 mL of Starch soluble was transferred into a conical flask.
vi. The sample is titrated until it changes to transparent color. The final readings was
recorded from the burette.
vii. The sample solution is thrown into the chemical bin that has been prepared and do not
throw it into the sink.
viii. The process is repeated with day 5 of BOD bottle sample.

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5.0 RESULT AND ANALYSIS

Water Sample: Lake water

Table 1: Dissolved Oxygen for Day 1 (DO0)

Water sample Initial (mg/L) Final (mg/L) DO0 (mg/L)
Before treatment 19.1 27.3
12.8
After treatment 27.3 31.9

Table 2: Dissolved Oxygen for Day 5 (DO5)

Water sample Initial (mg/L) Final (mg/L) DO5 (mg/L)
Before treatment 11.8 17.8
11.7
After treatment 17.8 23.5

Calculation:

( )
Dilution Factor, 𝑃 =
( )

= 0.1667

BOD5 =

. .
=
.

= 6.6 mg/L

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6.0 DISCUSSION

In this laboratory, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was conducted to determine the
concentration of BOD in water sample and to analyze data and interpret the results of the BOD
experiment. Two water samples were prepared and labelled to Day 1 and Day 5. This is to
measure the difference of BOD concentration in the water sample within 5 days. After Day 1
water sample is prepared, it is then measured by using titration method. In this method, there
are four types of reagents that have been mixed with the water sample such as magnesium
sulphate, calcium chloride, ferric chloride and phosphate buffer. While the Day 5 water sample,
the dissolved oxygen (DO) is measured after 5 days that was placed in the incubator with
temperature 20°C. The presence of a sufficient concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) is
critical to maintaining the aquatic life and aesthetic quality of streams and lakes. Understanding
how organic matter impacts dissolved oxygen in a stream or lake is essential to water quality
management. The BOD is calculated by using the formula. Biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD) represents the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and other microorganisms while
they decompose organic matter under aerobic conditions at a specific temperature. The quantity
of oxidizable compounds in a water sample that may reduce dissolved oxygen (DO)
concentrations is measured as oxygen demand.

According to the tabulated result shown, the value of dissolved oxygen (DO) for water
sample Day 1 is 12.8 mg/L while the water sample Day 5 is 11.7 mg/L. The lower usage of
dissolved oxygen means the polluted the water with microorganism as to has used all the
oxygen in the water.

Next, the reading for BOD water sample is 6.6 mg/L. According to Malaysia Sewerage
and Industrial Effluent Discharge Standards, the Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is 20
mg/L for Standard A and 50 mg/L for Standard B which is considered passed as it did not rise
above the standard index. The higher the reading of the Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD),
the more polluted the water sample. This is because higher Biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD) means more oxygen is needed and less oxygen presence for the living organism which
presented to poor water quality. The result unit for both parameters Biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) are in mg/L. Even so, the value of dissolved oxygen
(DO) can vary due to some technical errors such as human errors while using the titrate and
the systems of the dissolved oxygen (DO) meter that is not functioning and differs between the

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same models. Other than that, the measurement of dissolved oxygen (DO) can be calibrates the
measurements frequently before taking the readings. The reading of BOD also influenced if
the water sample in BOD bottle not placed in incubator is being exposed for the long to a light.

7.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the objective of this laboratory activities successfully achieved. The experiment
was carried as to measure the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water for a specified of time
and temperature. Generally, BOD5 being used to identify the oxygen level in the water. The
activities can be considered successful as the final reading of BOD5 is lower compared to the
initial reading, BOD1. Since the value obtained for BOD at fifth day is 11.7mg/L it can be
concluded that the river water from Tasik Bandar Perda has not been polluted. Based on the
data analysis, it can be confirmed the river water at proposed location is safe to be used and
suitable for living organisms.

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8.0 REFERENCES

1. https://water.mecc.edu/courses/Env211/lab15.htm
2. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/biological-oxygen-
demand-bod-and-water
3. https://www.slideshare.net/JonathanDamora/biological-oxygen-demand-lab-analysis-
and-background

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9.0 APPENDIX