DCC5172 Structure, Hydraulics & Water Quality Laboratory

CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND

(COD) TEST
1.0 Learning Outcomes
a. Apply well defined concept in water quality engineering. (C3)

b. Conduct the laboratory experiments in water quality using standard procedure and equipment. (P4)

c. Demonstrate ability to lead and work in team to complete assigned tasks during practical work. (A3)

2.0 Introduction
The chemical oxygen demand (COD) test 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 (e.g. lakes and
rivers), making COD a useful measure of water quality. It is expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L), which indicates the
mass of oxygen in water consumed per liter of solution.

COD is the measurement of the amount of oxygen in water consumed for chemical oxidation of pollutants. COD
determines the quantity of oxygen required to oxidize the organic matter in water or waste water sample, under specific
conditions of oxidizing agent, temperature and time.

This method covers the determination of COD in ground and surface waters, domestic and industrial wastewaters.

The applicable range is 3 – 900 mg/L.

3.0 Objective
To determine chemical oxygen demand in the given sample of water and performing the testing experiment.

4.0 Apparatus
Package contents (refer to merck 1.14555.0001):

25 reaction cells

1 sheet of round stickers for numbering the cells

Other reagents and accessories:

Merckoquant® Chloride Test, Cat. No. 110079, measuring range 500 - ≥3000 mg/l Cl-

Spectroquant® CombiCheck 70, Cat. No. 114689

COD standard solution CRM, 1000mg/l COD, Cat. No. 125032

COD standard solution CRM, 1000mg/l COD, Cat. No. 125033 COD
standard solution CRM, 1000mg/l COD, Cat. No. 125034

Pipette for a pipetting volume of 1.0ml

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 DCC5172 Structure, Hydraulics & Water Quality Laboratory

Thermoreator

5.0 Preparation

• Analyze immediately after sampling

• Homogenize the samples
• Check the chloride content with the Merckoquant® Chloride Test. Sample containing more than 5000mg/L Cl- must
be diluted with distrilled water prior to determining the COD.

6.0 Procedure
Suspend the bottom sediment in the reaction cell by swirling

Pretreated sample 1.0 ml Carefully allow to run from the pipette down the inside of the tilted reaction cell
onto the reagent (Wear eye protection! The cell becomes hot!)

Tightly attach the screw cap to the cell.

In all subsequent steps the cell must be held only by the screw cap!
Vigorously mix the contents of the cell.
Heat the cell at 148°C in the preheated thermoreactor for 120min.
Remove the hot cell from the thermoreactor and allow cooling in a test-tube rack.
Do not cool with cold water.
Wait 10min, swirl the cell and return to the rack for complete cooling to room temperature (cooling time at least
30min).
Measure in the photometer.

Important Notes:

1. For photometric measurement the cells must be clean. Wipe if necessary with clean dry cloth.

2. Measurement of turbid solution yields false-high readings.

3. The measurement value remains yields stable over a long term.

4. When using the SQ 118 photometer, a blank must be prepared for each test package according to the procedure

described above (as per measurement sample, but with distilled water instead of sample).

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 DCC5172 Structure, Hydraulics & Water Quality Laboratory

Data

pH (Unit) DO (%) BOD (mg/l) COD (mg/l)

Mar-11 4.85 0.08 28.78 73.3
Apr-11 6.89 1.72 39.54 115.73
May-11 6.77 5.12 52.32 141.82
Jun-11 6.84 3.34 1.69 26.08
Jul-11 7.3 4.86 32.52 131.34
Aug-11 7.13 4.17 86.38 140.32
Sep-11 6.93 3.36 72.88 94.94
Oct-11 6.67 0.78 6.41 234.05
Nov-11 6.37 0.61 28.9 407.64
Dec-11 6.07 0.72 51.12 267.56
Jan-12 5.6 0.65 71.64 382.38

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7.0 Results and Calculation

Chemical Oxygen Demand Results:

Volume of Sample
No. Sample Name COD value (mg/L)
(mL)