Overview
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) measures the amount of dissolved
oxygen consumed by aerobic microorganisms while decomposing organic
matter in a water sample over a specified period and temperature. It's a key
indicator of water quality, reflecting the organic pollution level and the
potential impact on aquatic life.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
What it is:
BOD is a test used to determine the amount of oxygen required by aerobic bacteria
to break down organic matter in water.
Why it matters:
High BOD levels indicate a greater amount of organic pollution, which can deplete
dissolved oxygen in water bodies. This can lead to harm for aquatic organisms that
rely on dissolved oxygen for survival.
How it's measured:
A water sample is incubated at a specific temperature (usually 20°C) for a set time
(usually 5 days). The difference in dissolved oxygen levels at the beginning and
end of the incubation period is used to calculate the BOD.
Sources of BOD:
BOD can come from various sources, including:
Natural sources: Decomposing leaves and woody debris, animal waste, dead plants
and animals.
Human activities: Wastewater treatment plant effluent, industrial discharges,
agricultural runoff, and urban stormwater runoff.
BOD vs. COD:
BOD is a biological measure, while Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) measures
the oxygen required to chemically oxidize all organic and inorganic compounds in a
sample. BOD is often preferred because it reflects the impact of biological
processes on water quality.
Significance:
BOD is a crucial parameter for assessing water quality and managing wastewater
treatment processes. Monitoring BOD helps to ensure that wastewater discharges
do not negatively impact the health of receiving water bodies.
BOD – Worked Examples
What will be the five day 20oC BOD? Assume k = 0.12 (base 10) at 20oC, and 𝝧 = 1.056.
Q1. The BOD of a sewage incubated for one day at 30oC has been found to be 100 mg/L.
Solution
k30 = k20 𝝧 (T-20)
k30 = 0.207 day-1,
BODt = Lo (1-10-kt)
Therefore, Lo = 263.8 mg/L
BOD5 at 20oC = 197.5 mg/L
Q2. Determine the 1 day BOD and the ultimate first stage BOD for wastewater whose 5 day
20oC BOD is 200 mg/L. Assume the redaction rate constant k (base e) is equal to 0.23 day-1.
Solution
Ultimate BOD, Lo = BODt/(1 - e-kt)
= 293 mg/L
Therefore 1 day BOD:
BOD1 = 293 (1 - e-kt)
= 60 mg/L
Q3. The treated water is being discharged into a river that has a temperature of 15oC. The
BOD rate determined in the laboratory for this mixed water is 012 day-1. What fraction of
maximum oxygen consumption will occur in the first four days?
Solution
k15 = k20(1,056)(15-20)
k15 = 0.091 day-1
Therefore
BOD4/Lo = 0.305.
Q4. The dissolved oxygen in an unseeded sample of diluted wastewater having an initial DO
value of 9.0 mg/L is measured to be 3.0 mg/L after 5 days. The dilution factor is 0.03 and the
reaction rate constant is k = 0.22 day-1. Calculate: (a) the 5 day BOD of the wastewater, (b)
the ultimate carbonaceous BOD, (c) the remaining oxygen demand after 5 days.
Solution
(a) BOD5 = (DOi – DOf)/p (i.e., dilution factor)
= 200 mg/L
(b) Ultimate BOD: BODt = Lo (1 – e-kt)
Lo = 300 mg/L
(c) After 5 days 200 mg/L of oxygen demand out of a total of 300 mg/L would be
satisfied. Hence the remaining oxygen demand would be 300 – 200 = 100 mg/L.
Q5. Determine the ultimate BOD for wastewater which has a 5 day BOD value of 160 mg/L
at 20oC. Assume a reaction rate constant of 0.2 day-1 (base 10).
Solution
BOD5 = Lo (1 – 10-kt)
Therefore, Lo = 177.8 mg/L
