THE CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is commonly used to indirectly measure the

amount of organic compounds in water. Most test of COD to determine the amount of
organic pollutants found in surface water that will making COD a useful measure of
water quality. Chemical oxygen demand is measures as a standardized laboratory
assay in which a closed water sample is incubated with strong chemical oxidant under
specific conditions of temperature and for a particular period of time. A commonly
use oxidant in COD is potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) which combine with boiling
sulphuric acid (H2SO4).Chemical oxygen demand is related to biochemical oxygen
demand BOD , another standard test for assaying the oxygen demanding strength of
water waste .
How ever BOD only measure the amount of oxygen consumed by microbial
oxidation and is most relevant to water rich in organic matter .It measures all organic
contaminants, including those that are not biodegradable. There is a relationship
between BOD and COD for each specific sample, but it must be established
empirically. COD test results can then be used to estimate the BOD of a given sample.
The big effect to the environment when the value of chemical oxygen demand
increase the environment of water quality in river or lake will be more pollute.

1.1 OBJECTIVE

Chemical Oxygen Demand or COD is a measurement of the oxygen required to

oxidize soluble and particulate organic matter in water.
1.2 LEARNING OUTCOMES

I. To understand the oxidize able matter with a known amount of

potassium chromate, the titration of excess chromate, and the
calculation of oxygen used.
II. To identify the organic oxidize able matter pollutant content in water
samples.
III. To evaluate the water quality status at the location of water or
wastewater sampling point.
IV. To choose the appropriate analytical methodology for measuring COD
parameter.

1.3 THEORY

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is used as a measure of oxygen requirement

of a sample that is susceptible to oxidation by strong chemical oxidant. The
dichromate reflux method is preferred over procedures using other oxidants like
potassium permanganate because of its superior oxidizing ability, applicability to a
wide variety of samples and ease of manipulation. Oxidation of most organic
compounds is 95% - 100% of the theoretical value.
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. Older references may express the units as parts per million (ppm).
To determine compute the Normality of Standard Ferrous Ammonium Sulfate
( FAS ), we use formula :

Volume 0.0416M K2Cr2O7 solution titrated, mL x 0.25

Volume FAS used in titration, mL

To determine the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) concentration in mg/L for

the sample, we use formula :
COD as mg O2 / L = [(A – B) x NFAS x 8000]
[mL sample]

1.4 EQUIPMENT

Figure 1:COD reflux system

Figure 2:Burette

Figure 3:COD vial

1.5 PROCEDURE

Sampling Procedure
1. Collect the samples in glass bottle, if possible. Use of plastic containers is
permissible if it is known that no organic contaminants are present in the
containers.

Figure 4: Collect the sample

2. Biologically active samples should be tested as soon as possible. Samples

containing setteable material should be well mixed.

Figure 5: Sample Figure 6: Mix the sample and COD vial

3. Samples should be preserved with sulfuric acid to a pH < 2 and maintained 4°C
until analysis.

Laboratory Procedure

1. The substances must be added in COD Vial following the sequences below:
a. Place in COD Vial 1 and 2 with:
i. 1.5ml Potassium Dichromate Reagent
ii. 3.5ml Acid Sulfuric Reagent
NOTE : Mixture reflux thoroughly before applying heat to prevent local of heating of
flask bottom and possible blowout of flash contents.
b. COD Vial No 1: 2.0 ml sample
 COD Vial No 2: 2.5ml distilled water
2. Entering the refluxing mixture at COD Reactor with temperature 150 for 2
hours. At a meantime please proceed to Procedure no. 6.

3. After 2 hours, cool wash down the condenser with distilled water. Continue
cooling the condenser to room temperature.

4. Disconnect reflux condenser. Transfer the solution to the conical flask and
dilute the mixture up 150ml with distilled water. Add with 3 drops ferroin
indicator. Place the magnetic bars and stir it with magnetic stirrer.

5. Titrate K2C2O7 with Ferrous Ammonium Sulfate (FAS). First and last
reading should be jot down in Table 2. Take as the end point of the titration the
sharp colour to blue-green. Stop titration, add 3 drops of Ferroin Indicator.
Continue titration until colour the colour change to reddish brown that persist
for 1 minute or longer. Stop titration and jot down the last reading in Table 2.
Take a precaution that the end point colour changes of titration is fast.
Calculate the volume of FAS used in titration Table 2 .

6. Preparation of Standard Ferrous Ammonium Sulfate (FAS) titration as

below.

a. Dilute 5ml Potassium Dichromate K2C2O7 standard (0.01667M) with

10ml distilled water in theconical flask 250ml. swirl and mix slowly.
b. Slowly and carefully add 30ml conc H2SO4 and cool. Refer to Figure1,
titrate with the FAS titrant using 3 drops of ferroin indicator.
c. Take as the end point of the titration the first sharp colour change to
blue- green. Stop titration, add 3 drops of ferroin indicator. Continue
titration until colour change to reddish brown that persists for 1 minute
or longer.
d. Take precaution that the end point colour changes of titration is fast.

1.6 RESULT
 Table 1: Chemical Oxygen Demand Test (COD)
Sample COD Reading (mg/L)
Sample 1 85.00

SubIndex for Chemical Oxygen Demand (SICOD)=103*exp(-0.0157x)-0.04x~For

x>20
=103*exp[-0.0157(85)] - 0.04(85)
=23.72

1.7 DISCUSSION

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 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.
COD it is similar BOD but is determined by using a strong oxidizing agents to
break down the chemical (rather than bacteria). The amount of oxygen in COD
consumed equivalent to oxygen in BOD.

1.8 CONCLUSION

According to the experiment that the Chemical Oxygen Demand is to measure the
level of effectiveness of waste water sample in water or waste water. The Chemical
Oxygen Demand (COD) is not only depend on the ability of microorganism to
degrade the waste but it is also about the knowledge of the particular substance. This
experiment is not easy like we assume because every mixture of substance should be
doing carefully and if a little mistake happen on our mixture, for sure it will affect to
our result.
As a conclusion, I can also say that this COD test is including the measurement of
the ability of hot chronic acid solution to oxidize organic matter and pollutants in
natural and waste waters and to assess the strength of discharged waste such as
sewage and industrial effluent waters. This analyses both biodegradable and non-
biodegradable (refractory) organic matter expressed as O2. From our result, the COD
reading obtained was 85 mg/L which is the Sub Index for Chemical Oxygen
Demand (SICOD) we get 23.72