9/6/2016

BOCvsCOD

COD vs. BOD

Home

Contact

Search

Navigate

Home

Services

Home

Products

Services

Environmental Lab

About Us

Contact

Training

Audits

Troubleshooting

Bug of the Month

Biological Products:
Bioaugmentation products for
Wastewater applications in
Papermills, Refineries,
Chemical, Tanneries,
Municipalities, Textiles, Steel,
Agriculture, Animal feedlot,
Gun Powder plant, Food and
Beverage Dairy Products,
Orange Juice factory, Wineries,
Cookie factory, Vegetable
processing plant, Meat packing,
Barbecue Restaurant,
Aquaculture, Ornamental Ponds
for algae control, CAFO, Nursing
homes, Military, Campgrounds,
Universities, Regulatory
agencies

Lab Services:
Filamentous Identification Lab
Service. One reason to identify
filaments is to determine the
filaments characteristics and
then determine the type
present. If the type is found
out, a root cause can usually be
associated with a particular
filament. If the cause is known,
then a correction can be made
to alleviate problems.
Chlorination is only a quick fix.
Without process changes,
filaments will grow back after
chlorination.

Products

Contact

Troubleshooting

Training

Wastewater Training & TroubleshootingCOD vs.

BOD
L N!

What is the difference between BOD,

COD or TOC? Why do I have to
measure them?

MicroBlock
Bio block
for Grease
Removal

Almost all wastewater treatment plants are

required to measure one of these three items
as a measure of the pollution value in the

water. COD should always measure higher

than TOC and then BOD.

COD or Chemical
Oxygen Demand
W' N!
is the total
We
have just added
measurement of
"Virtual
Audits" to our
all chemicals in
capabilities. Check out our
the water that
new Services. We are in
can be oxidized.
the process of developing
TOC or Total
Organic Carbon is an ""Online EUniversity" in
order to meet the needs
the
of our global customers
measurement of
that cannot travel to our
organic carbons.
BOD Biochemical public classes. Stay tuned
for details and updates.
Oxygen Demand
is supposed to
measure the
amount of food (or organic carbons) that bacteria
can oxidize.

For the purposes of this wastewater training, we are going to use the term
Biological Oxygen Demand as well, the two terms have been interchanged,
but if you are taking a wastewater operators test for wastewater training,
stick to the Biochemical term. The purpose of this wastewater training is to
get the basic understanding of what is going on across your system. You
cannot have a biochemical oxygen demand or biochemical reaction without
including biology! We are trying to get the concept across that one of these
test methods is using biology, microbiology to be exact. The other two are
using strictly chemical tests to measure pollution.

COD is usually a measurement of chemicals and the test is simple and easy to
perform with the right equipment and can be done in 2 hours. BOD usually
takes 5 days and TOC used to require large expensive pieces of equipment
that could measure the sample in minutes, but was cost prohibitive. There
are now test in tube kits that utilize COD digesters to run a test similar to a
COD test method available to run a quick, simple and inexpensive TOC test.
Below are more detailed specifics on each test.

Why do I have to measure them?

The government came up with these test methods as a way

to determine the amount of pollution in a water stream to
try to control and limit the amount of chemicals that can
pollute the lakes and rivers if left in a final effluent or
discharge stream. Some municipalities want to measure the
amount of chemicals in the incoming stream in order to
asses surcharges as a way of measuring how much additional
treatment their plant will have to do in order to get the incoming water
clean.

It is not only important to know which test you are being measured on, but
why, how the sample is pulled and the variations on how they perform the
test method. Garbage in, garbage out, correct sampling procedures and
methods are critical and can make the difference in violating a permit or not.
Just because a lab says they perform BOD does not necessarily mean they
perform the procedures the exact same way. Check on the exact methods
used.

Did you know some labs do not add bacterial seed cultures? If there are few
or very little bacteria in the sample, it will show that the BOD is low. It there

http://www.environmentalleverage.com/BOD%20vs%20COD.htm

1/4

9/6/2016

BOCvsCOD
Wastewater Biomass Analyses
and Cooling Tower Analyses also
available

Training Materials:
Training is an integral part of
any job. Not everyone is at the
same level of training. Many
people want beginning concepts
and basics. Some need
technical information or
troubleshooting. Some want
equipment, technology or
process information.
We have developed a full set of
Basic training, Advanced
training, Filamentous
Identification the Easy Way as
well as custom training CD's
Manuals. We also provide
handson training classes and
soon will have an Online "E
University".

Audits and Consulting:

At Environmental Leverage
Inc., we have a team of
experienced individuals who
come into your plant with a
fresh pair of eyes. The system
is checked from influent to
effluent. System optimization,
equipment efficiency and
operational excellence are key
components explored. Key
Benefits Equipment efficiency
Total Cost of Operation
reductions Reliability and safety
An onsite audit is conducted to
examine system parameters,
process controls, and current
monitor and control
procedures. A physical walk
through is conducted, process
flow diagrams are examined,
previous design criteria are
examined and current standard
operating procedures are
evaluated along with data logs.

are biocides present, it will show the result as low. If there

are high levels of ammonia present in the sample or bits of
algae present, a false high BOD reading will show up. If the
sample sits for a few days and turns septic before the test
is run, it will require more oxygen and if not set up
properly, again a false reading will occur.

What is Chemical Oxygen Demand?

A COD test measures all organic

carbon with the exception of certain
aromatics (benzene, toluene, phenol,
etc.) which are not completely
oxidized in the reaction. COD is a
chemically chelated/thermal
oxidation reaction, and therefore,
other reduced substances such as
sulfides, sulfites, and ferrous iron will
also be oxidized and reported as COD.
NH3N (ammonia) will NOT be
oxidized as COD.

The use of COD results for wastewater compliance

monitoring is increasing.

To measure oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) relies on

bacteria to oxidize readily available organic matter during a fiveday
incubation period. COD uses strong chemicals to oxidize organic matter.
Generally, COD is preferred to BOD for process control measurements because
results are more reproducible and are available in just two hours rather than
five days. By the time you have the results from a five day test, the
wastewater treatment plant conditions are no longer the same, so real time
monitor and control can not be relied upon by the use of BOD. In this
wastewater training you'll learn COD is a quick and easy measurement to get a
snap in time picture of what is going on in the system, and with trending, long
term predictions can be made and monitor and control of the process at the
wastewater treatment plant can be optimized and controlled.

BOD simulates the actual treatment plant process by

measuring the organic material microorganisms can oxidize.
Although COD is comparable to BOD, it actually measures
chemically oxidizable matter. The COD test is not a direct
substitute for the BOD test; however, a ratio usually can be
correlated between the two tests. This requires COD versus BOD testing over
a specified period of time.

For industrial samples, COD may be the only feasible test because of the
presence of bacterial inhibitors or other chemical interferences, which would
interfere with a BOD determination. COD testing also gives the fast
measurements required in many treatment systems for informed decisions
regarding process control adjustments. Many industrial and municipal
laboratories find that parallel COD and BOD testing is beneficial because the
COD test can be used to target a specific BOD range. The need for multiple
BOD dilutions is minimized or eliminated.

What is Total Organic Carbon?

Organic matter content is typically measured as total organic

carbon and dissolved organic carbon, which are essential
components of the carbon cycle. The Total Organic Carbon test
measures all organic carbon as CO2. Therefore, all inorganic
CO2, HCO3, etc. Must be removed prior to the analysis.

TOC is often used when levels of organic matter (OM) are low.
Total organic carbon is a good parameter to measure and
actually a more accurate indication of some of the pollutants that cause the
most problems than a BOD test. TOC doesn't differentiate between that
portion of organic carbon, which can be metabolized (assimilated).

TOC used to be measured by expensive analyzers. Below are some of the

older methods with analyzers. Typically TOC analyzers are composed of three
primary categories: combustion oxidation, wet oxidation and photocatalytic
oxidation. Some analyzers use a combination or mixture of technology.

(1)Combustion Oxidation/ NDIR Method (nondispersive infrared gas analyzer)

(2)WET OXIDATION Persulfate oxidation / NDIR Method
There are two types of this method, persulfate oxidation supported with UV
(Ultraviolet) irradiation activation and heated persulfate oxidation.
(3) CONDUCTIVITY UV oxidation / Conductivity based TOC methods oxidize the
TOC that is present to CO2 using UV radiation typically in the presence of a
titanium oxide catalyst.

COMBUSTION OXIDATION
http://www.environmentalleverage.com/BOD%20vs%20COD.htm

2/4

9/6/2016

BOCvsCOD

The combustion method measures total carbon

(TC). It requires samples injection by syringe
into a high temperature furnace with a
platinum or cobalt catalyst. This process
oxidizes all of the carbon materials present to
CO2.
For example, in one
of these analyzers,
TOC concentration is
not directly
measured; the
Analyzer measures
total carbon (TC)
and total inorganic
carbon (TIC) and subtracts TIC from TC to obtain
TOC. An oxidizer and an acid are added to the
sample. The acid reacts with bicarbonate and
carbonate ions present in the sample to release carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2
released from bicarbonate and carbonate ions represents the TIC in the
sample. The sample is then subjected to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which
reacts with the oxidant and breaks down all remaining carbon bonds in the
sample to release CO2. The CO2 released from both the acid reaction and the
UV radiation represents all the carbon (TC) released from the sample. TOC is
then obtained by subtracting TIC from TC.

Newer methodology for TOC Analyses.

One type of new methodology for TOC analyses is using closedloop

photocatalytic oxidation. The new TOC methodology includes a titanium
dioxide slurry and a 400 nm light source for the oxidation process. The closed
loop TOC system incorporates a closedloop design to eliminate the need for
carrier gases and uses what is called dynamic endpoint detection, where all
of carbon in the sample is oxidized to completion. The reaction is measured
using a nondispersive infrared (NDIR) detector. This new technology can
directly measure TOC from a single sample eliminating the loss of purgable
organics and results in comparable recoveries of various organic compounds
when compared to the combustion TOC method. This new methodology can be
used for the same applications where the traditional TOC methods have been
employed.

There are now also Test N Tube reagents that can be used with COD digesters
and Spectrophotometer analyzer. The test is performed in two hours, but the
cost for capital equipment is nowhere in the same range. The method
involves the oxidation of
sample carbon to carbon dioxide by persulfate digestion. The carbon dioxide
diffuses into a colored pH indicator solution where it is converted to carbonic
acid. The resulting color change is directly proportional to the concentration
of carbon present in the sample.

What is the meaning of CBOD vs. BOD? There are too many
terms and it is getting confusing to me. . . . .
There are two completely different testsa CBOD test and a
BOD test. Many times a CBOD vs. BOD5 test is needed due
to conditions at a plant. In some places where the
nitrification of ammonia may not be complete (i.e.,
incomplete conversion of ammonia (NH3) to nitrate (NO3)) or
where too high levels of amines or ammonia are present,
false BOD readings may occur. This can occur in municipal
lagoons, chemical plants or refineries. For lagoon (pond)
treatment systems or other situations where this may occur,
it is recommended that a Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (CBOD or Inhibited BOD) should be reported and
used in place of 5day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5). Nitrification is
inhibited so that only the oxidation of COD occurs.

What is the difference between BOD vs. CBOD?

BOD5 measures the oxidation of carbons and possibly nitrogenous compounds

present in a water sample. CBOD only measures oxidation of carbons.

Where did BOD5 come from?

The BOD test Originated in the United Kingdom due to

pollution in the Thames River. Legend has it that the 5day
BOD (Biological or Biochemical Oxygen Demand) test was
developed in England. Sewage was dumped in a river and it
took five days for it to reach the ocean, hence the fiveday
incubation requirement in the BOD method.

It is rumored that a ferry tipped over and that many of the

people who fell in the river got sick or died. This was not
due to drowning, but due to the effects of the pollution in
the river. The Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal recommended and
http://www.environmentalleverage.com/BOD%20vs%20COD.htm

3/4

9/6/2016

BOCvsCOD

adopted the BOD5 test in 1908. The duration of the test is normally 5 days.
The Average temperature is = 20 degrees C. 300 ml are usually used. Dark
Incubation is needed to restrict the growth of algae. The final measurement is
usually expressed as O2 mg/l. BOD measures all biodegradable organic
carbons, and under certain conditions, oxidizable nitrogen present in the
waste.

The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) test tries to closely model an aerobic
wastewater treatment system and the natural aquatic ecosystem. It measures
oxygen taken up by the bacteria during the oxidation of organic matter. The
test usually runs for a fiveday period, but can run 7 or 10 days as well,
depending on specific sample circumstances.

BOD uses and limitations:

BOD testing has its widest application

in measuring waste loadings of wastewater treatment plants, and in
evaluating the efficiency of treatment processes. It is of limited use in
industrial wastewaters containing heavy metal ions, cyanides, and other
substances that may be toxic to the microorganisms.

Unfortunately, the test has flaws. It is

usually seeded with the type of bacteria
found in municipal plants. The types of
bacteria needed in papermills or
refineries usually differ in species from
the standard procedures method. The
hard to degrade organics found in some of
these systems also may take longer than 5
days to break down, so a BOD test will
give an inaccurate measurement of the
amount of pollution that may be present
in a waste stream.

The test is a 5 day test, during that time

if the pH drops, or if there are insufficient
nutrients for the bacteria to consume the
organics, the bacteria will be limited.

Well, I guess it is really important to know

these terms, with wastewater training to
know how and where I sample my system
as well as who runs the tests. .. .

MoreTroubleshooting

What is the difference between CBOD, Total BOD and NBOD? Now I am really
confused?

Toxicity vs. High BOD loading

Wastewater Training Classes

Wastewater Training CD's

Copyright 2003. Environmental Leverage Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Home | Products | Services | FAQs | Contact | About | Training | Sitemap| Lab Services |Newsletters| Bug of the Month |Industry

http://www.environmentalleverage.com/BOD%20vs%20COD.htm

4/4