Biological Oxygen Demand

Abstract

Bacterial oxygen consumption during reduced substance oxidation in water and wastewater is quantified by the biological oxygen demand (BOD). The most common types of biodegradable organic carbon (CBOD) and nitrogenous ammonia (NBOD) are the ones that contribute most to biological oxygen demand (BOD). These chemicals are found in abundance in the wastewaters produced by both plants and animals, as well as by humans (domestic and industrial wastewaters). Extreme dissolved oxygen depletion and fish deaths are two water quality issues that may result from the discharge of pollutants with high BOD levels. There are a lot of problems with the standard techniques for determining BOD in wastewaters, yet they have been mostly the same for decades. There have been suggestions for other approaches and ways of estimation. Different mathematical models have been developed to mimic surface water quality based on the kinetics of dissolved oxygen consumption due to BOD discharges. Due to its extensive use in several influential water quality models and its lengthy history, the BOD test will undoubtedly be assessed for many more years to come.