Eradication of Blank Failures in the Five-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand Test (BOD5)

Christopher Fair; Estelle Riche

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Eradication of Blank Failures in the Five-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand Test (BOD5)

Abstract

The most difficult quality objective to achieve in the five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) test is to limit oxygen depletion in the blank to less than 0.21 mg/L. Three problem areas contribute to poor blanks (those greater than 0.20 mg/L): poor dissolved oxygen measurement, insufficiently cleaned BOD5 bottles, and poor quality water. The combination of using a luminescent dissolved oxygen probe designed for the BOD5 test (LBOD), disposable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and a water purification system eliminates blank failures, when used in conjunction with good laboratory practices.

The most difficult quality objective to achieve in the five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) test is to limit oxygen depletion in the blank to less than 0.21 mg/L. Three problem areas contribute to poor blanks (those greater than 0.20 mg/L): poor dissolved oxygen measurement, insufficiently cleaned BOD5 bottles, and poor quality water. The combination of using a luminescent dissolved oxygen...

Author(s)

Christopher FairEstelle Riche

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

SubjectSession 49: U.S. EPA's Performance Based Method Approach, National Lab Accreditation, and New Methods for Environmental Monitoring

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Jan, 2008

ISSN1938-6478

SICI1938-6478(20080101)2008:13L.3789;1-

DOI10.2175/193864708788733251

Volume / Issue2008 / 13

Content sourceWEFTEC