Bachelor of Science (Hons)

(Applied Chemistry)
(AS 225)

LABORATORY REPORT

Water and Wastewater Technology

(CMT564)
Experiment
Name
Name of Partners

Demonstrator
OBJECTIVES:

5 : Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

Hanim Binti Ismail
2009401538
Norhazwani Binti Zubairi
2009659246
Norezzati Afifa Bt Razali
2009258728
Norhaniza Bt Hamzah
Mr. Lee Kok Kheng

2009902677

To measure the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of the sample using Reactor Digestion Method and
calculate the percentage of the COD reduction for the sample.

RESULT:
Group

COD of raw
wastewater (mg/L)
1
OR
2
5715
3
5680
4
OR
CALCULATION:

COD of treated
water (mg/L)
461
735
402
700

% COD reduction
92.31 %
91.93 %
92.92 %
88.33 %

COD of standard
(mg/L)
UR
135
60
135

% COD reduction = COD of raw wastewater - COD of treated water x 100

COD of raw wastewater
Example of the calculation :
% COD reduction = 5715 461 x 100
5715
= 91.93 %
COMMENT :
Reactor Digestion Method is used in this experiment to shorten the traditional dichromate reflux
method time. From the result, the COD of the raw wastewater measured is over range (OR), it is because the
sample that we use is in excessive amount, therefore the spectrophotometer cannot detect the reading. To
calculate the percentage of COD reduction for group1 and 4, we choose to use 6000 mg/L replacing the OR
value since the COD of other group is above 5500mg/L. By comparing the result group 2 and 3, the COD of
raw wastewater is close to each other and got a large number. It can be said that the water is content of large
amount of carbon in insoluble organic. Based on the result, the COD of treated water is lower than raw
wastewater because it has been treated well and less carbon content of soluble organic matter in the water.
The COD of standard is lower that the treated because standard we used is the deionised water which
contains less oxidized inorganic material.
Because COD measures the oxygen demand of organic compounds in a sample of water, it is
important that no outside organic material be accidentally added to the sample to be
measured. To control for this, a so-called blank sample is required in the determination of
COD. A blank sample is created by adding all reagents (e.g. acid and oxidizing agent) to a volume of distilled
water. COD is measured for both the water and blank samples, and the two are compared. The oxygen
demand in the blank sample is subtracted from the COD for the original sample to ensure a true measurement
of organic matter. Some samples of water contain high levels of oxidized inorganic materials which may
interfere with the determination of COD. Because of its high concentration in most wastewater, chloride is
often the most serious source of interference. This interference can be eliminated by the addition of mercuric
sulfate to the sample, prior to addition of other chemicals. The mercuric ion combines with the chloride ion
to form a poorly ionized mercuric chloride complex.

There are several errors occur while doing the experiment. The largest error is caused by using a non
homogeneous sample. Every effort should be made to blend and mix the sample so that solids are never
excluded from any aliquot. There are several precaution in this experiment that we should followed, since the
vials contain sulphuric acid, potassium dichromate, silver and mercury, it must be handled properly and not
to through away the solutions into the laboratory sink because mercury is very hazardous. We have to careful
when take out the vials from the COD reactor because they are heated to 150oC and become very hot.
CONCLUSION:
From this experiment, the COD of the raw wastewater, treated water and the standard is measured.
The COD of the raw wastewater is greater than COD of the treated water and COD of the standard is the
smallest. The percentage of reduction of the COD is above 90%
QUESTION:
1) What was the purpose of the blank sample of distilled water?
Because COD measures the oxygen demand of organic compounds in a sample of water, it is
important that no outside organic material be accidentally added to the sample to be measured. To indicate
the absence of contamination or super saturation of dilution water with DO.
2) Why is it important to determine COD test in wastewater treatment?
COD is a measurement of the maximum organic load and this indicates the type of treatment needed
and if doing the treatment biologically, the amount of oxygen required doing it. In effluent, it is related to
the pollution level, but there are many factors included in that determination. There are different COD
tests and each has to be interpreted a different way. Hg/Cr COD gives the max number, while Mn COD
will be closer to the BOD measurement.
3) Summarize the method and write the chemical reaction involved and interpret your test result?

A catalyst, silver compound is added to promote the oxidation of certain classes of organics, and a
mercuric compound may be added to reduce interference from the oxidation of chloride ions by the
dichromate. End products are carbon dioxide, water, and various states of the chromium ion. After the
oxidation step is completed, the amount of dichromate consumed is determined by measuring its
absorbance. In the oxidation of organic materials by dichromate in sulfuric acid, most of the carbon is
converted to carbon dioxide while any hydrogen present in the organic compound is converted to water.
Other elements also may be oxidized. A blank is also prepared to zero (to calibrate) the
spectrophotometer. The COD value is directly displayed in the window of the instrument.
The chemical equation involved is:
4) A sample is collected for COD analysis and it is to be performed on the following day.
Describe two ways by which the sample can be preserved.
2 ways to preserve the sample is by adding sulfuric acid, H2SO4 as the preservative and adjust the
pH<2. The sample also should be cooled at 4.0C. It is necessary to preserve the sample to avoid of

initiate photo degradation of sample components and to avoid the lost of analytes in the sample. Besides
that, it will prevent the cause chemical reactions to occur, altering original sample composition.
REFERENCES:
Manual of Practical: Kasmawati Mohamed & Lee Kok Kheng,
Methods of Analysis for Water and Wastewater,
UPENA, 2007.
P. Aarne Vesilind, G Heine Lauren & M.Morgan Susan,
Introduction to Environmental Engineering,
3rd Edition
http://www.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/090151b280328341.pdf
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46131160/Cod
http://science.jrank.org/pages/1388/Chemical-Oxygen-Demand.html