TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENT

PAGE NUMBER

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

1.0 Preamble
1.1 Introduction

1.2 Objective

1.3 Procedures

1.4 Apparatus and Materials

2.0 Findings
2.1 Result

3.0 Discussion

4.0 Conclusion

4.0 References

5.0 Appendices

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE

TITLE

PAGE
NUMBER

1.1.1

COD Range

2.2.2

Result of the Test

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE

TITLE

PAGE
NUMBER

1.4.1

COD thermoreactor

1.4.2

COD vials

1.4.3

Effluent wastewater sample

1.4.4

Influent wastewater sample

1.4.5

Spectrophotometer

1.4.6

Syringe

6.0.1

COD vials in their container

6.0.2

The wastewater sample was transferred by using the syringe

6.0.3

COD vial containing effluent wastewater

6.0.4

COD vials was placed in the COD reactor

1.0
1.1

PREAMBLE

INTRODUCTION

The Chemical Oxygen Demand, or COD, is a measurement of the amount of material that
can be oxidized (combined with oxygen) in the presence of a strong chemical oxidizing agent.
(Lab 16: Chemical Oxygen Demand, n.d.) Since the COD test can be performed rapidly, it is often
used as a rough approximation of the water's BOD, even though the COD test measures some
additional organic matter (such as cellulose) which is not normally oxidized by biological
action. COD test is reported as mg/L of oxygen used.

This test is reasonably fast but can give erroneous result with some contaminant. For
example, ethonoic acid contamination will not be detected but the test will include cellulose.
Potassium dichromate will react with chlorine and this will give an error if water with high level
of chlorine. The oxidation rate varies for different compound so it is important to adhere strictly
to the reaction time specified to allow comparisons between samples.
The table below shows the normal range of COD found in various kinds of domestic
wastewater. Keep in mind that the addition of industrial waste can cause these values to vary
widely.
Source

Normal COD range, mg/L

Plant influent

300 - 700

Primary effluent

200 - 400

Trickling filter effluent

45 - 130

Activated sludge effluent

30 - 70

Advanced waste treatment effluent

5 - 15

Table 1: COD range

3

Basically, the test consists in heating, under reflux, a mixture of the water sample,
potassium dichromate and a solution of silver sulphate in concentrated sulphuric acid. If the sample
contains more than 50 mg/L chloride, then mercury sulphate is also added. The mixture is heated
under reflux for two hours and the residual dichromate is determined by titration with ammonium
iron sulphate. The COD sample is defined in terms as the oxygen equivalent of the oxidizing
agent reduced.
Although the COD test has been used in its present form in many years, there are still some
aspect which are still some aspect which are unsatisfactory. The major problem is the interfering
effect of the chloride ions. Mercury sulphate is added to the COD test mixture to suppress the
oxidation of chloride ions. However, some chloride is still oxidized causing an apparent increases
in COD. As well as this, the chloride form may interact with some of the organic matter in the
sample, introducing a further error in COD. Another problem is the=at some organic compound,
netably benzene, pyridine and its derivatives, are not completely oxidized under the conditions of
the COD test

1.2

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this experiment is to determine chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration
in wastewater.

1.3

PROCEDURES
1. Three COD vials are filled with reagents. One for influent wastewater sample, one for
effluent wastewater sample and another one for blank sample.
2. 2 ml of each sample was filled in the vial and labelled it as sample A, B, and C. sample A
for influent wastewater, sample B as effluent wastewater and sample C as blank sample.
3. Vial caps are capped and the vials were inverted several times to mix the solutions.
4. Prepared samples were inserted into the COD thermoreactor. The heating block was set up
to 150 0C for two hour. Start button was pressed.
5. After 2 hours, the sample are taken out from the thermoreactor to a cooling rack. Samples
were cool for 45 minutes to ensure it come to the room temperature.
6. Surface of each vial were cleaned with tissues to certify that no fingerprints was left and
the vial was bacteria free.
7. The vial with blank sample was put inside the spectrophotometer and set up to no 435.
8. The start button were pressed and select zero to set for the blank sample. The value of the
samples was recorded.
9. The vial with sample wastewater A was put inside the spectrophotometer. The start button
was pressed and the value of COD was recorded.
10. Steps 7-9 were repeated with the sample B.

1.4

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS

Figure 1.4.2: COD vials

Figure 1.4.1: COD thermoreactor

Figure 1.4.3: Effluent wastewater sample

Figure 1.4.4: Influent wastewater sample

Figure 1.4.6: Syringe

Figure 1.4.5: Spectrophotometer

2.0
2.1

FINDINGS

RESULT
Sample
Blank
Influent
Effluent

COD Level (mg/L)

0
113
63

Table 2: Result of the Test

3.0

DISCUSSION
The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) test measures the oxygen equivalent consumed by

organic matter in sample during strong chemical. (Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Testing
Procedures, n.d.) The strong chemical oxidation conditions are provided by the reagents used in
the analysis. COD vial which contain Dichromate reactor digestion reagents for fast, easy, safe
determination of COD levels in wastewater is used in this test. The sample of wastewater in this
laboratory test was taken from Mawar hostel wastewater treatment plant. We have taken two
sample which are the influent sample and effluent sample.
The basis for the COD test is that nearly all organic compounds can be fully oxidized
to carbon dioxide with a strong oxidizing agent under acidic conditions. The amount
of oxygen required to oxidize an organic compound to carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water is
given by:

In this test we have prepared three (3) samples which are blank sample, influent sample
and effluent sample. After reacting all the three sample with the COD vial and leave the samples
being heated for two (2) hours, we then take the result. The blank sample is a sample that is used
to zeroing the reading of the spectrophotometer. After that the influent sample reading is taken and
the result of COD reading is 113 mg/L while the reading of effluent sample is lower than the
reading of influent sample which is 63mg/L.
Influent is wastewater flowing into the treatment plant includes items such as human waste,
food waste, garbage and even dead animals. If they are not removed, these items can cause
7

problems later in the treatment process such as restricting flow, clogging pipes or damaging
pumps. The materials are collected in a dumpster and shipped to a landfill.
Effluent is an outflowing of water that has been treated in a septic tank or sewage treatment
plant. The water is then will be discharged into a river or the sea. Effluent in the artificial sense is
in general considered to be water pollution. A treated and cleaner effluent is used to feed the
bacteria in bio-filters. Effluent also refers to liquid discharge which is the output of the cooling
system that known as effluent cooling water.
Thus, the influent sample give the highest reading of COD as it is not yet treated and being
release to the treatment plant without any filtration. The effluent sample give the lowest reading
as it already been treated in the wastewater treatment plant.

4.0

CONCLUSION
Chemical Oxygen Demand test is commonly used to indirectly measure the amount of

organic compounds in water. Most applications of COD determine the amount of organic
pollutants found in surface water, making COD a useful measure of water quality. It is expressed
in milligrams per liter (mg/L), which indicates the mass of oxygen consumed per liter of solution.
Potassium dichromate is a strong oxidizing agent under acidic conditions. Most commonly,
a 0.25 N solution of potassium dichromate is used for COD determination, although for samples
with COD below 50mg/L, a lower concentration of potassium dichromate is preferred. In the
process of oxidizing the organic substances found in the water sample, potassium dichromate is
reduced, forming Cr3+. The amount of Cr3+ is determined after the oxidization is complete, and is
used as an indirect measure of the organic contents of the water sample.
Because COD measures the oxygen demand of organic compounds in a sample of water,
it is important that no outside organic material be accidently added to the sample to be measured.
To control for this, a so-called blank sample is required in the determination of COD. A blank
sample is created by adding all reagents to a volume of distilled water. COD is measured for both
the water and the blank samples, and the two are compared.

5.0

REFERENCES

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Testing Procedures. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mountain Empire
Community College Water/Wastewater Distance Learning Website:
http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/env149/cod.htm
Lab 16: Chemical Oxygen Demand. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mountain Empire Community
College Water/Wastewater Distance Learning Website:
http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/env211/lab16.htm

6.0

APPENDICES

Figure 6.0.1: COD vials in their container

Figure 6.0.2: The wastewater sample

was transferred by using the syringe

Figure 6.0.3: COD vial containing effluent wastewater Figure 6.04: COD vials was placed
in the COD reactor
9