BOD
BOD or Biochemical Oxygen Demand is a measure of the quantity of oxygen used by microorganisms (e.g., aerobic bacteria) in the oxidation of organic matter.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a key indicator of the organic quality of water. It measures the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in a sample of water, such as that polluted by sewage or industrial waste. The BOD value is most commonly expressed in milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre of sample during 5 days of incubation at 20 °C and is often used as a surrogate of the degree of organic pollution of water.
Measurement of BOD[edit | edit source]
BOD can be measured directly by using an oxygen probe or indirectly by titration methods. The direct method involves the measurement of the amount of oxygen consumed by the microorganisms during a specified time interval. The indirect method involves the addition of an excess amount of an oxidizing agent (like potassium dichromate in an acidic medium) to the sample of water. The remaining unreacted oxidizing agent is then titrated with a reducing agent to determine the amount of oxidizing agent that has reacted with the organic matter.
Applications of BOD[edit | edit source]
BOD is used extensively in the water industry and environmental science. It is used in water quality management and assessment, wastewater treatment, and is an important parameter in the design and operation of wastewater treatment plants. It is also used in the assessment of the efficiency of treatment processes and in the determination of the organic strength of wastes.
Limitations of BOD[edit | edit source]
While BOD is an important parameter in water quality assessment, it has its limitations. It is not a precise quantitative test, although it is widely used as an indication of the organic quality of water. The test has a low reproducibility, and the results are often not comparable between different laboratories due to differences in the microbial populations and in the interpretation of the results.
See also[edit | edit source]
 | This environment-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
 | This water supply–related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
