A H M 531 BOD By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

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A H M 531 BOD By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

OBJECT :-

Measure the amount of oxygen consumed by micro-

organisms to stabilize wastewater under aerobic condition .

GENERAL OVERVIEW :-

B.O.D at 5-day is the average value to make sure that the

nitrifying bacteria didn’t start its activity .
B.O.D(5) ≈ 60 - 70 % B.O.D
B.O.D(20) ≈ 90 - 99 % B.O.D

The following conditions should be For reaction to take place

:-
1- Temperature should be 20C° .
2- Population should be enough .

The problem of population is found in the industrial

waste ,
so we add what we called ( Seed ) which is a sludge
containing bacteria from sanitary wastewater .

dL/dt = - K1 * L
L(t) = Lo * e^(-K1* t)
B.O.D(t) = Lo ( 1 - e^(-K1* t) ) = consumed B.O.D .
where : L = remaining B.O.D
Lo = ultimate B.O.D
K1 = reaction constant depends on the type of waste .
To find the values of K1 & Lo , we have to convert the
relation to linear shape as :
(t / B.O.D)^(1/3) = (K1*Lo)^(-1/3) + ((K1^2/3)*t / 6(Lo^1/3))
Y = a + bx t .

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A H M 531 BOD By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

Where slope = b = (K1^2/3) / 6(Lo^1/3) .

intercept = a = (K1*Lo)^(-1/3) .

Theory :

CnHaOb + ( n+(a/4) – (b/2) – (3c/4))O2Æ ( with bacteria ) Æ

nCO2 + ((a/2) – (3c/2)) H2O + cNH3

1- Direct Method :

B.O.D(5) = D.O(i) - D.O(f) mg/l O2

this measure is accepted only if
a) Remaining D.O > 1.0 mg/l
b) Consumed D.O > 2.0 mg/l .

This method is not for the sanitary waste because it is

valid only for B.O.D(5) ≤ 10 mg/l .

2- Dilution Method :

We use dilution method to prepare our sample by using

an appropriate dilution factor.
In order to be sure of the active presence of bacteria we
have to provide it with these conditions :-
1- Temp. ≈ 20 C° .
2- pH = 6.5 - 8.3
3- Saturation with O2 by the aeration apparatus .
4- Provision of Seed .
5- Provision of Nutrients ( N , P ) .
6- Provision of Trace elements ( K , Ca , Mg )
7- Dissolved oxygen .
We have to provide the nutrients because the bacteria contain
12.5% N & 2.5% P .
How much to provide ? , we have to measure the
amount of sludge in kg / day .
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A H M 531 BOD By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

⇒ N(req.) = 12.5% x sludge weight .

and P(req.) = 2.5% x sludge weight .
And to know the available N & P , we take sample from
the influent and calculate the concentration of P and of N , so :
N(available) = CN * Q(m^3/d) .
P(available) = CP * Q(m^3/d) .
then we compare the available with the required and add the
difference.

PROCEDURE :

Wastewater is put in a large container and add materials

we mentioned above to protect the sample. Then we take (6)
of 350ml bottles and put 100ml in each bottle , for the first
bottle we measure D.O at the current time D.O(0) , for the
second we measure D.O at the next day D.O(1) , and so on to
the last bottle . We also fill another two bottled with blank (
distilled water + Seed ) , we measure the D.O at the current
time D.O(0) for one bottle , and D.O after 5days for the
second , D.O(5) .
We measure the D.O as we made in the D.O experiment
.

t (days) D.O(sample) D.O(blank) B.O.D(t) (t/BOD)^1/

3
0 x x
1 x
2 x
3 x
4 x
5 x x

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A H M 531 BOD By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

For the D.O(blank) we assume that the change in the

D.O was linearly along the 5days .

BOD(t)={[DO(i)-DO(f)](sample)-((X-1)/X)[DO(i)-DO(f)] }X
where : X = 1 / dilution factor .

CALCULATIONS :-

We take X = 150 .
After we take the sample we make a titration to measure
the D.O to be as follows :
1) Sample :
D.O(i) (sample) = 10 mg/L O2 .
2) Blank :
D.O(i) = 9.2 mg/L O2 .

First Group Second Group

DOO 8 9.5
DO5 7.1 8.6
DOO 7.5 9.2
DO5 3.2 4.3

The First group :

BOD5={[7.5-3.2] – 1.0 [ 8.0 – 7.1 ] }150 = 510 mg/L as O2

The second group :

BOD5={[9.2-4..3] – 1.0 [ 9.5 – 8.6 ] }150 = 600 mg/L as O2

Question :
Time D.Osample D.Oblank BOD (t/BOD)(1/3
)
(day)
0 10 9.2 0 ----
1 7.8 9.1 315 0.147

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A H M 531 BOD By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

2 5.8 9.0 600 0.1494

3 4.2 8.9 825 0.1538
4 2.5 8.8 1065 0.1554
5 1.5 8.7 1200 0.161

From graph :
Slope = 0.0025
Y-intercept = 0.1435

Æ b = 0.0025 = (K1^2/3) / 6(Lo^1/3) .

a = 0.1435 = (K1*Lo)^(-1/3) .
⇒ K1 = 6b/a = 6*0.0025/ 0.1435= 0.10453 .
and Lo = 1 / (K1*a^3) = 1 / (0.10453*0.14353)
= 3237.46 mg / l O2 .
BOD5 = Lo ( 1 – e-K.t ) = 3237.46 ( 1 – e-0.10453X5) =1317.817
mg/L

CONCLUSIONS : -

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A H M 531 BOD By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

we may have some sources of error in this experiment as the

temperature, procedure and accuracy of making the samples or
taking the readings.
Because of the long period that this experiment takes in the
lab and the number of reading during five days makes it
difficult to proceed .
The value of K1 is 2.245 , which is acceptable . the ultimate
BOD = 138.7 mg / l O2 .

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