BOD Monitoring for Safer Water and Wastewater

As population growth and industrial activity increase, water resources face rising pressure. Contaminated water and industrial effluents threaten human health and the environment, making continuous water quality monitoring essential. Among the critical parameters, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) stands out as a key indicator of organic pollution and biodegradability.

BOD measures the oxygen consumed by microorganisms to degrade organic matter, reflecting both the pollution level and the potential impact on ecosystems. It is widely used for assessing wastewater treatment efficiency, controlling industrial discharges, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

Understanding BOD

BOD is determined by monitoring the oxygen consumed by aerobic microorganisms in a water or wastewater sample over a defined period. Standard measurement methods include:

• UNI EN ISO 5815-1:2019 – BOD after n days using dilution and seeding
• Standard Method 5210D – BOD for domestic, industrial, and animal wastewaters
• OECD 301 F – Manometric respirometry

The most common test is BOD5, representing oxygen consumption over 5 days at 20 °C. Longer tests, like BOD6 or BOD7, or the ultimate BOD (BODu) over 20–30 days, capture the total biodegradable fraction of organic matter.

Expected BOD5 values vary widely:

• Well-treated effluent: ~3–5 mg/l
• Standard effluent: ~10–30 mg/l
• Strong sewage: 400–600 mg/l
• Trade effluents (animal/vegetable waste): >1000 mg/l

Velp RESPIROMETRIC Sensor: Precision and Ease of Use

The Velp RESPIROMETRIC Sensor simplifies BOD measurement by detecting internal pressure changes and displaying the BOD value in mg/l directly, eliminating manual calculations. Key benefits include:

• Compact and versatile: Suitable for water, wastewater, and environmental labs
• Real-time monitoring: RESPIROSoft™ transmits data continuously to a PC
• Flexible scaling: BOD measurement up to 4000 mg/l for a wide range of sample types
• Extended applications: Supports aerobic/anaerobic tests, biodegradability studies, microbial soil respiration, Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP), and denitrification analysis

The system integrates DataBox™ technology, enabling wireless data transmission and storage for up to 400 sensors, making long-term studies straightforward and fully automated.

Read the full article to learn how Velp RESPIROMETRIC Sensor systems can transform your water and wastewater analysis. Explore detailed workflows, applications, and benefits to ensure accurate, reliable, and real-time monitoring in your laboratory.

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