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A 10 mL sample is added to a 300 mL BOD bottle. Unseeded dilution water is added

ID: 943961 • Letter: A

Question

A 10 mL sample is added to a 300 mL BOD bottle. Unseeded dilution water is added to the sample bottle and the initial dissolved oxygen concentration is measured as 8.5 mg/L. After the sample is sealed, the laboratory incorrectly takes a measurement of DO reading on day 6 of 3 mg/L. The BOD reaction rate coefficient for the sample is 0.30/d.

(a) estimate what the BOD5 should have been.

(b) Estimate what the DO reading should have been on day 5.

(c) Determine the ultimate carbonaceous BOD of the sample.

Explanation / Answer

a) BOD5 = (Initial DO - Final DO ) Xdilution factor

Dilution factor = Volume of bottle / sample volume = 300 / 10

BOD 5 = 8.5 - 3 X 30 = 165

b) DO on day 5 should be

BOD5 = (Initial DO - Final DO ) X Dilution factor

Final DO at day 5 = Initial DO - (BOD5 / Dilution factor )

Final DO at day 5 = 8.5 - (165/30) = 3

c) We know that

Ultimate BOD = BOD5 / (1-e-kt)

Ultimate BOD = 165 / (1-e-0.3X5) = 165 / 1-0.223 = 212.35 mg / L