Using BOD for Safe Activated Sludge Disposal in a Stream

by Lauren Grant

Submitted : Spring 2013

Biochemical (or biological) oxygen demand (BOD) testing is used to determine how much biodegradable material is in an aquatic system. Polluted aquatic environments can be detrimental to higher aquatic life-forms because of oxygen depletion during biodegradation of that material. Based on some simple equations modeling material flow and the reaction rate, engineers and scientists can determine how biodegradable materials are removed from a water source over time and when their BOD concentrations return to safe levels.

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