A bonus example BOD problem:

A BOD analysis is begun on Monday. 40 mL of waste with D.O. = 0

is mixed with 260 mL of dilution water with a D.O. of 10 mg/L. The
sample is then put in the incubator. Since the 5th day falls on Saturday,
and lab personnel do not work on Saturday, the final D.O. does not get
measured until Monday, the 7th day. The final D.O. is measured at
3.5 mg/L. However is is discovered that the incubator was set at 30 oC.
Assume that k1 = 0.2/day at 20 oC and that θ = 1.05. Determine the
BOD520°C of the waste.
Solution: first use mass balance to compute the initial D.O. for
the test.
VW (D.O.)W + VD(D.O.)D
Initial D.O. =
VW + VD

40mL(0 mg/L) + 260mL(10 mg/L)

= = 8.67 mg/L
(40 + 260)mL
 We know on Monday D.O. = 3.5 mg/L
°C
∴ BOD30
7 = 8.67 - 3.5 = 5.17 mg/L (for the diluted waste)

Next find the k1 value at 30 oC.

(T− 20 ) ( 30− 20 )
k 30°C = k 20°Cθ = .2(1.05) = 0.326 / day
Now find LO. °C  − k130° C ( 7 ) 
BOD30
7 = LO 1 − e 

or 5.17 = LO 1 − e−.326( 7 ) 

Solving, LO = 5.75 (for the diluted waste)

Note: LO is constant and independent of temperature

or how long the test lasts.
 20°C
Now we can find BOD5

y 5 = BOD520°C (
= LO 1 − e − k120° C ( 5)
)
( )
BOD520°C = 5.75 1 − e−.2(5) = 3.64 mg/L

And remember that this value is for the waste at a

dilution of 40 ml/300 mL.

So BOD520°C = 3.64 
300 
 = 27.3 mg/L
 40 