The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CSE30337 Water and Waste Management

Laboratory Report on
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
and
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

Lecturer: Dr. Dan Tsang

Date of Laboratory: 17/03/2015

Student Name Student ID

Choi Chong Wing 12097268D

Fung Chun Sing 12097054D

Hui Man Fai 12099041D

Leung Cheuk Yin 12098769D

Ng Ka Chun 12098815D

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Table of Content

Laboratory Worksheet C1: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) .................................. 3

Objective ................................................................................................................ 3

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3

Apparatus ............................................................................................................... 3

Procedure ............................................................................................................... 3

Calculation ............................................................................................................. 4

Experimental Result ............................................................................................... 5

Discussion............................................................................................................... 8

Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 8

Laboratory Worksheet C2: Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) ....................................... 9

Objective ................................................................................................................ 9

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 9

Apparatus ............................................................................................................... 9

Procedure ............................................................................................................. 10

Calculation ........................................................................................................... 11

Experimental Result ............................................................................................. 12

Discussion............................................................................................................. 13

Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 13

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Laboratory Worksheet C1: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Objective
To determine the BOD amount of water and wastewater

Introduction
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is defined as the oxygen required for oxidizing
the biodegradable organics in water or wastewater samples through biochemical
process. It is in fact a measurement of the organic strength of the samples. The
parameter is commonly used in pollution studies and, wastewater treatment plant
design and operation.

Apparatus
DO meter.
BOD bottles.
Dilution Water.
Constant temperature incubator at 20oC.

Procedure
1. Make 2 or 3 different dilution of the original sample with dilution water
provided according to Table 1.
2. Prepare dilution either in volumetric flask and then transfer to BOD bottles or
prepare directly in BOD bottles.
3. Determine DO of the diluted samples and dilution water blank immediately
before incubation using DO meter and express as DOt=0.
4. Incubate the diluted samples and dilution water blank in BOD bottles at 20 oC for
5 days.
5. Determine DO of the diluted samples and dilution water blank after incubation
using DO meter and express as DOt=5.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Calculation

Where D1 = (DOt=0- DOt=5)sample , D2 = (DOt=0- DOt=5)blank

P = decimal volumetric fraction of sample used.

Using Percent Mixtures By direct pipetting into 300 mL bottles

% mixture Range of BOD Volume (mL) Range of BOD
(mg/L) (mg/L)
0.01 20,000-70,000 0.02 30,000-105,000
0.02 10,000-35,000 0.05 12,000-42,000
0.05 4,000-14,000 0.1 6,000-21,000
0.1 2,000-7,000 0.2 3,000-10,500
0.2 1,000-3,500 0.5 1,200-4,200
0.5 400-1,400 1.0 600-2,100
1.0 200-700 2.0 300-1,050
2.0 100-350 5.0 120-420
5.0 40-140 10.0 60-210
10.0 20-70 20.0 30-105
20.0 10-35 50.0 12-42
50.0 4-14 100.0 6-21
100.0 0-7 300.0 0-7
Table1. BOD measurable with various dilution of samples.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Experimental Result
Dot=0 Dot=5 BOD
Group 1 D1 D2 P
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
Blank
Top up with 8.62 8.33 / 0.29 / /
Dilution Water
Samples S1
8.57 5.45 3.12 / 0.0167 170.09
to be 5mL sample
used S2
6.82 4.96 1.86 / 1.0000 1.86
300mL sample
S1
8.62 3.92 4.7 / 0.0233 189.29
7mL sample

Dot=0 Dot=5 BOD

Group 2 D1 D2 P
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
Blank
Top up with 6.77 6.79 / -0.02 / /
Dilution Water
Samples S1
6.69 2.94 3.75 / 0.0233 161.55
to be 7mL sample
used S2
5.96 5.11 0.85 / 0.6667 1.29
200mL sample
S1
6.67 2.01 4.66 / 0.0333 140.38
10mL sample

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Dot=0 Dot=5 BOD

Group 3 D1 D2 P
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
Blank
Top up with 6.78 8.5 / -1.72 / /
Dilution Water
Samples S1
6.73 2.1 4.63 / 0.0333 188.78
to be 10mL sample
used S2
5.88 3.5 2.38 / 0.8333 3.20
250mL sample
S2
5.62 5.23 0.39 / 1.0000 0.39
300mL sample

Dot=0 Dot=5 BOD

Group 4 D1 D2 P
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
Blank
Top up with 8.61 8.49 / 0.12 / /
Dilution Water
Samples S1
8.55 5.12 3.43 / 0.0167 198.72
to be 5mL sample
used S2
7.21 5.01 2.2 / 0.8333 2.62
250mL sample
S2
7.47 5.47 2 / 0.6667 2.94
200mL sample

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Group S1 Sample Dot=0 (mg/L) Dot=5 (mg/L) D1 D2 P BOD(mg/L)

1 5mL sample 8.57 5.45 3.12 / 0.0167 170.09
4 5mL sample 8.55 5.12 3.43 / 0.0167 198.72
1 7mL sample 8.62 3.92 4.7 / 0.0233 189.29
2 7mL sample 6.69 2.94 3.75 / 0.0233 161.55
2 10mL sample 6.67 2.01 4.66 / 0.0333 140.38
3 10mL sample 6.73 2.1 4.63 / 0.0333 188.78
mean BOD(mg/L) 181.69
The result of 10mL S1 sample of Group 2 is ignored.
The mean BOD of settled sewage is 181.69 mg/L.

Group S2 Sample Dot=0 (mg/L) Dot=5 (mg/L) D1 D2 P BOD(mg/L)

1 300mL sample 6.82 4.96 1.86 / 1.0000 1.86
2 200mL sample 5.96 5.11 0.85 / 0.6667 1.29
3 250mL sample 5.88 3.5 2.38 / 0.8333 3.20
3 300mL sample 5.62 5.23 0.39 / 1.0000 0.39
4 250mL sample 7.21 5.01 2.2 / 0.8333 2.62
4 200mL sample 7.47 5.47 2 / 0.6667 2.94
mean BOD (mg/L) 2.38
The result of 300mL S2 sample of Group 3 is ignored.
The mean BOD of treated effluent is 2.38 mg/L.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Discussion
Source of error:
- Procedures from flask to flask change the totally amount of tested object.
- Air bubbles may be trapped during diluting or transferring the object.
- Settled sewage may contain chemicals suppressing microbiological activity, like
antibiotics in medical waste, sanitizers in food, chlorine used, etc. This may lower
the result being tested.
- Waste water may already contain a large population of microorganisms
acclimated to the water being tested.
- Temperature and acidity may also affect the microorganism activity in water.

Conclusion
From the test result, we may find that the value obtained for s1 is much larger than
that for s2. S1 solution is the settled waste and s2 solution is the treated effluent. As
we can see, the organic strength in settled waste is much higher. In other words,
settled waste contains more pollutants than treated effluent.
Organic waste is food for microbes. It helps microbes to growth. With the presence
of oxygen, aerobic organisms may be fast in scale. As a result, the amount of BOD is
eliminated in wastewater treatment in order to suppress the microorganism activity.
That may explain why the tested amount of BOD for settled waste is much larger
than that for treated effluent.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Laboratory Worksheet C2: Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

Objective
To determine the COD concentration of water and wastewater.

Introduction
The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is used as a measure of oxygen equivalent of
the organic matter content of a sample that is susceptible to oxidation by a strong
chemical oxidant. For samples from a specific source, COD can be related empirically
to BOD, organic carbon, or organic matter. The test is useful for monitoring and
control after correlation has been established.

Apparatus
Reflux apparatus.
COD flasks.
Dispensers.
Hot plate producing at least 1.4W/cm2 of heating surface.
Mercuric sulfate (HgSO4).
Conc. H2SO4.
25.3138 g silver sulfate (Ag2SO4) in 2.5 L conc. H2SO4.
Standard potassium dichromate solution (0.25N K2Cr2O7).
Ferroin indicator solution.
Ferrous ammonium sulfate titrant (FAS).
Standardize FAS titrant daily against standard K2Cr2O7 solution:
1. Take 10 mL of 0.25N K2Cr2O7 + 20 mL distilled water + 30 mL conc. H2SO4.
2. Then titrate with FAS solution.
3. Use the formula N1V1=N2V2 to calculate the normality of FAS.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Procedure
1. Place 20 mL of sample ( for samples with COD > 900 mg/L, use a smaller sample
portion and dilute to 20 mL ) in a COD flask and place 20 mL distilled water in
another COD flask for use as blank.
2. Add suitable amount of solid HgSO4 if necessary (to remove Cl- interference)
and slowly add 5 mL conc. H2SO4 with a dispenser.
3. With a dispenser, accurately add 10 mL standard K2Cr2O7 solution and mix.
4. Very slowly add 25 mL of sulfuric acid containing the dissolved Ag2SO4 in it.
5. Continue swirling and mixing while adding sulfuric acid.
6. Attach flask to a condenser and TURN ON the cooling water.
7. Cover the open end of the condenser with a small beaker to prevent foreign
materials from entering the refluxing mixture.
8. Start heating.
9. Reflux the mixture for 2 hours. Use a short period for particular samples if it has
been shown that short period yields the same COD value.
10. Cool and wash down condenser with distilled water slowly and dilute the
mixture to about twice its volume.
11. Disconnect reflux condenser and cool to room temperature.
12. Titrate with standardized FAS solution using 5 drops of Ferrion indicator. The
colour change from blue-green to reddish brown at the end point of titration.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Calculation
Assume the experiment in operated under 20
Volume of potassium dichromate solution (K2Cr2O7) added to standardize FAS:

We use the following equation to calculate the normality of FAS,

Where N1 is the normality of K2Cr2O7,

N2 is the normality of FAS,
V1 is the measured volume in the standardized sample of 10ml K2Cr2O7,
V2 is the measured volume of standardization of FAS.

After calculating the normality of FAS, we use the following formula to obtain the
COD values.

Where A is the volume of FAS used in titration for blank in mL,

B is the volume of FAS used in titration for sample in mL,
N is the normality of FAS solution.

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Experimental Result
The volume of FAS solution used in standardization is 11.15mL and 11.16mL
respectively. Therefore, the average of it is 11.155mL.

By A=11.155, N=0.224
Group Sample FAS (mL) Sample Volume(mL) COD (mg/L)
1 Blank 10.91 20 21.952
S1 7.78 20 302.4
2 Blank 10.87 20 25.536
S2 10.33 20 73.92
3 S1 7.61 20 317.632
S2 10.49 20 59.584
4 S3 - 20 -
S3 4.58 20 589.12

The calculated COD values of each sample are relatively close to each other. It implies
the values are acceptable.
The average COD of S1 = 310.016mg/L
The average COD of S2 = 66.752mg/L
The average COD of S3(4mL) = 589.12mg/L

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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CSE30337 Water and Waste Management
Laboratory Report

Discussion
Errors in COD:
I. FAS solution retaining on the wall of conical flask during titration, therefore end
point should appear earlier if conical flask wall is rinsed properly.
II. Error also exists due to the varying temperature of sample as the sample might to
be cool to reach room temperature.

The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) refers to the amount of dissolved oxygen
used by aerobic biological organisms to breakdown the organic matters in water,
when the value of BOD is higher, the more amount of organic matters present in the
water. While Chemical oxygen demand (COD) refers to the amount of oxygen
required to oxidize the organic matters in water in chemical ways. As BOD is included
as part of the COD, so that the value of COD should be higher than BOD.

Conclusion
The experimental result of S3 has the highest value than S2 and S1, it is because the
S3 is the industrial waste water while S2 is treated effluent water and S1 is raw
sewage water. S2 has been treated so that some of the microorganism or organic
matters have been removed so that it requires less oxygen. S3 is the water from
industrial so that it contains a lot of organic matters which requires lot of oxygen to
breakdown, so that it has the highest value.

However, the value of COD is higher than that of BOD. As BOD focuses only on the
biological process. It means BOD only removes the biodegradable organic matter in
waste water while COD removes all the organic matter in the waste water. It includes
both the biodegradable and non-biodegradable organic matter.

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