Wastewater Engineering
SEAA 2922
Wastewater – Types and Characteristics (Part 4)
Dr Mohd Hafiz Puteh
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
• The quantity of oxygen needed to chemically oxidize the organic compound in
sample, converted to carbon dioxide and water.
• Commonly used to define the strength of industrial wastewaters.
COD Test Procedure
1. Water sample (measured volume, mL) +
Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) +
sulphuric acid + silver sulphate
2. The mixture is refluxed (vaporized and
condensed) for 2 hours
The oxidation of organic matter converts
dichromate (Cr2O72-) to trivalent chromium (Cr3+)
Organic matter + Cr2O72- + H+ → CO2 + H2O + 2Cr3+
COD Test Procedure
Organic matter + Cr2O72- + H+ → CO2 + H2O + 2Cr3+
3. The mixture is titrated with ferrous
ammonium sulphate (FAS)
((NH4)2Fe(SO4)2 ); to measure the excess
dichromate remaining in sample.
Record = amount of FAS titrant added to sample (mL)
Repeat step 1,2 & 3 for blank
Change the water sample to distilled water, and record the
amount of FAS added to the distilled water (blank) (mL)
COD Test Procedure
COD is calculated from the following equation:
8000(a − b)
COD = NormalityofFAS
Where:
COD = Chemical Oxygen Demand, mg/L Normally, wastewater
a = amount of FAS titrant added to blank, mL has high organic content.
The Chemical Oxygen
b = amount of FAS titrant added to sample, mL
Demand (COD) is about
=volume of sample, mL 200 to 750 mg/L
8000 = multiplier to express COD in mg/L of oxygen
Example 1
The results of a COD test for raw wastewater (50 mL used) are given. Volumes of
FAS used for blank and the sample are 24.53 mL and 12.88 mL, respectively. The
Normality of FAS is 0.242. Calculate the COD concentration for the sample.
Solution:
Using the equation for COD above,
8000( a − b )
COD = NormalityofFAS
8000 (24.53 − 12.88) 0.242
50
= 451 mg/L
Example 2
The results of a COD test for diluted wastewater sample (50 mL used) are given.
The dilution factor was 0.2. Volumes of FAS used for blank and the sample are
30.35 mL and 25.35 mL, respectively. The Normality of FAS is 0.25. Calculate the
COD concentration for the sample.
Solution:
Using the equation for COD above,
8000( a − b )
COD = NormalityofFAS
What is the real sample volume?
8000 × 30.35 − 25.35 × 0.25 10 mL
50 𝑥 0.2
= 1000 mg/L
BOD vs COD
BOD COD
Agent: Bacteria Agent: Chemical (strong oxidizing agent)
Biodegradable organic only Biodegradable and non-biodegradable
organic
3 days / 5 days 2 hours
Commonly used to define the strength of Commonly used to define the strength of
sewage, river, other biodegradable wastes industrial wastewaters
Relation between COD and BOD
1. COD > BOD
2. COD Ultimate BOD
3. COD/BOD 2, biodegradable organic
4. COD >> BOD, non-biodegradable organic
5. Ratio of COD/BOD is approximately 2 before wastewater treatment.
After the treatment, the ratio increases.
Relation between COD and BOD
Wastewater A Wastewater B
BOD (mg/L) 130 120
COD (mg/L) 900 240
What is the possible type of wastewater for A and B?
*Hint: ratio COD/BOD
Thank you
