Limitations of the BOD Test
The various limitations of the BOD Test include:
- The BOD is unable to provide information on the non-biodegradable material present in the water body.
- The amount of time taken is too long in some situations where a rapid test may be more suitable.
- The BOD results are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations. A slight change might affect the microbial activity leading to error in results.
- Sometimes in a single sample, different kinds of microbes are present that utilise oxygen differently. This can generate false results.
- The water samples sometimes contain inhibitory chemicals that may stop the microbial activity thus falsifying the BOD test.
- The presence of nitrogenous substances like ammonia or nitrate in the sample can cause alteration to the microbial activity as these too lead to the consumption of oxygen.
- The type of pollutants in the water cannot be determined using the BOD test.
What is BOD Test?
The BOD test acts as an important criterion for knowing the health of an ecosystem. The BOD Test of Water is done to know how impure or pure the water body is. The BOD test procedure involves the collection of the water sample in an air-tight container which is then kept in incubation for five days at 20 ℃. The sample of water contains microorganisms that have the function of decomposing organic matter. They utilize oxygen present in the water to do so. BOD measures the amount of oxygen that gets consumed.
Table of Content
- Definition of BOD
- Objectives of BOD Testing
- Principle of BOD Test
- Calculation of BOD
- BOD Test Procedure
- BOD Test Measurement Problems
- Importance of Biochemical Oxygen Demand
- Limitations of the BOD Test