Problems,

problems, problems
Presented by L.R. Chevalier, Ph.D., P.E.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Given the following data, calculate BOD5

Initial DO of sample: 9.0 mg/L
Volume of sample: 10 ml
Final DO of bottle after 5 days: 1.8 mg/L
Volume of BOD bottle: standard 300 ml

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Review and understand the terms of the governing equation

BODt =

DOi - DO f
Vs

Vb

DOi - DO f
P

WHERE P is the decimal volumetric fraction of the sample

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Standard Bottle: 300 ml

P = 10/300 =0.033
BOD5 =

DOi - DO f
P

9.0 - 1.8
=
= 218 mg
L
0.033

BOD (mg/L)

Typical Curve

BOD5
Time (days)

Further Discussion on BOD

Typical values
domestic sewage 250 mg/L
industrial waste as high as 30,000 mg/L
untreated dairy waste 20,000 mg/L

After 5 days, BOD curve may turn sharply upward

demand of oxygen by microorganisms that decompose
nitrogeneous organic compounds into stable nitrate

BOD (mg/L)

nitrogenous
BOD5

Time (days)

Lo

carbonaceous

Problem

Strategy

Solution

If the BOD3 of a waste is 75 mg/L and

k=0.345 day-1, what is the ultimate BOD?

Problem

Strategy

Solution

For some of you there may be a confusion as to

which equation to use:

BODt = Lo 1 - e

- kt

Lt = Loe

- kt

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Recall the equation for BODt

BODt =

DOi - DO f
Vs

Vb

DOi - DO f
P

The amount of DO measured will decrease over

time. Does BOD increase or decrease over time?

400

BOD remaining, Lt
Oxygen consumed, BOD t

Lo

300

OXYGEN CONSUMED

200

100

OXYGEN DEMAND REMAINING

0
0

10

15

20

Time, days

OXYGEN CONSUMED

BODt = Lo 1 - e

- kt

OXYGEN DEMAND REMAINING

Lt = Loe- kt

Want to use the equation that shows an increase with time!

25

Problem

Strategy

Solution

75 = Lo (1 - e

- ( 0.345 )(3 )

= 0.645Lo
Lo = 116 mg / L

Problem

Strategy

BODt = Lo 1 - 10

Lo

Solution
- kt

is the ultimate BOD

k is used for the rate constant in base e

K is used for the rate constant in base 10

k = 2.303( K )

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Given: DOi = 9.0 mg/L

DO = 3.0 mg/L after 5 days
Dilution factor P = 0.030
Reaction rate, k = 0.22 day-1
a) What is the 5-day BOD?
b) What is the ultimate BOD?
c) What is the remaining oxygen demand after 5
days?

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Given: DOi = 9.0 mg/L

DO = 3.0 mg/L after 5 days
Dilution factor P = 0.030
Reaction rate, k = 0.22 day-1
a) What is the 5-day BOD?
b) What is the ultimate BOD?
c) What is the remaining oxygen demand after 5
days?

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Review and understand the equations needed for the solution

Vs

Vb

BODt = Lo 1 - e

- kt

DOi - DO f
P
400

Lo
BOD remaining, Lt
Oxygen consumed, BOD t

BODt =

DOi - DO f

300

yt
200

BODt
100

Lt
0
0

10

Time, days

15

20

25

Problem

Strategy

Solution

a) What is the 5 day BOD?

BOD5 =

DOi - DO f
P

9-3
=
= 200 mg
L
0.03

Problem

Strategy

Solution

b) What is the ultimate BOD?

BOD5
200
mg
Lo =
=
- kt
( - 0.22 )(5 ) = 300
L
1- e
1- e

Problem

Strategy

Solution

c) What is the remaining oxygen demand after 5

days?

300 - 200 = 100 mg/L

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Determine the ThOD of a 400 mg/L solution of glucose C6H12O6

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Balance the equation

Determine the MW of compound and O2
Calculate ThOD

ThOD(

mg

mg

chemical
# moles oxygen
g
)
=

32
L
mol oxygen
MW chemical # moles chemical
L

Problem

Strategy

Solution

1. Balance the following equation

C6 H12O6 + __ O2 __ CO2 + __ H 2O

C6 H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6 H 2O

Problem

Strategy

Solution

2. Determine the MW of glucose and O2

MW C6H12O6 = 12(6) + 12 + 16(6) = 180 g/mol
MW O2 = 2(16) = 32 g/mol

3. Calculate the ThOD

mg
400
6 moles oxygen
L
mg
g
(
)
ThOD L =

32
mol oxygen
g
180 mol 1 moles glucose

= 426.7 mg L

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Ethanol, or ethyl, alcohol is used in beverages, as a gasoline additive, and in other

industrial applications. Because small amounts of ethanol and sugar are used in
the biological process to produce methanol, both of these compounds inevitable
end up in the waste water of methanol plants.
Calculate the ThOD demand for waste water containing 30 mg/L ethanol
[CH3CH2OH] and 40 mg/L sucrose [C6H12O6]

Problem

Strategy

Solution

Balance two equations

Determine the MW of both compounds
Calculate ThOD for both, then add

ThOD(

mg

mg

chemical
# moles oxygen
g
)
=

32
L
mol oxygen
MW chemical # moles chemical
L

Problem

Strategy

Solution

1. Write the balanced equation for the oxidation of

ethanol (often written EtOH) to the end products
of CO2 and H2O.

CH 3CH 2OH + 3O2 2CO2 + 3H 2O

MW EtOH = 46 g/mol

Problem

Strategy

Solution

2. ThOD of EtOH is calculated as follows:

mg
30
3 moles oxygen
L
mg
ThOD( L ) = g
32 g mol oxygen
46 mol 1 moles EtOH

= 62.6 mg L O2

Problem

Strategy

Solution

3. Calculate the ThOD for wastewater containing

40 mg/L sucrose [C6H12O6]

C6 H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6 H 2O

MW Sucrose = 180 mg/L
mg
40
6 moles oxygen
L
mg
g
ThOD( L ) =

32
mol oxygen
g
180 mol 1 moles sucrose

= 42.7 mg L O2

Problem

Strategy

Solution

4. To calculate ThOD for waste water containing

both 30 mg/L ethanol [CH3CH2OH] and 40 mg/L
sucrose [C6H12O6], you can add the ThOD of the
individual compounds.

ThOD tot = 62.6 mg/L O2 + 42.7 mg/L O2

= 105.3 mg/L O2

... end of example

Example

Solution

A chemical plant produces the amino acid

glycine [C2H5O2N]. The wastewater from the
facility contains approximately 25 mg/L of
this acid. Calculate both the carbonaceous
and nitrogenous ThOD for the wastewater.

Example

Solution

1. As in the previous example, write the

balance equation, but include NH3 as an end
product.

C2 H 5O2 N + ? O2 ? CO2 + ? H 2O + ? NH 3

Example

Solution

2. Balanced equation:
C2 H 5O2 N + 1 12 O2 2CO2 + H 2O + NH 3

3. The molecular weight of the acid is 75 g/mol. The

amount of oxygen required to oxidize the
carbonaceous portion is:
mg
25
1.5 moles oxygen
L
mg
ThOD( L ) = g
32 g mol oxygen
75 mol
1 moles acid

= 16 mg L O2

Example

Solution

4. One mole of ammonia is produced for each mole

of acid oxidized. The equation for oxidation of the
ammonia is:
NH3 + 2O2 NO3- + H2O + H +

ammonia

nitrate

Example

Solution

5. To determine the nitrogenous oxygen demand:

mg
25
2 moles oxygen
L
mg
NOD( L ) = g
32 g mol oxygen
75 mol 1 moles ammonia

= 21.3 mg L O2

Example

Solution

6. The amount of oxygen required to oxidize the acid

is the sum of both the carbonaceous and the
nitrogenous oxygen demands.

ThOD = 16 + 21.33 = 37.33 mg/L O2

.....end of example