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DISSOLVED OXYGEN

TITLE
To determine the amount of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in water.

DISSOLVED OXYGEN
The dissolved oxygen (DO) is oxygen that is dissolved in water. The oxygen dissolves by
diffusion from the surrounding air; aeration of water that has tumbled over falls and rapids;
and as a waste product of photosynthesis. A simplified formula is given below:

Photosynthesis (in the presence of light and chlorophyll):

Carbon dioxide + Water --------------> Oxygen + Carbon-rich foods

CO2 H 2O O2 C6H12O6

Fish and aquatic animals cannot split oxygen from water (H2O) or other oxygen-containing
compounds. Only green plants and some bacteria can do that through photosynthesis and
similar processes. Virtually all the oxygen we breathe is manufactured by green plants. A
total of three-fourths of the earth’s oxygen supply is produced by phytoplankton in the
oceans.

• Fish, invertebrates, plants, and aerobic bacteria all require oxygen for respiration.
• Much of the dissolved oxygen in water comes from the atmosphere. After dissolving at
the surface, oxygen is distributed by current and turbulence. Algae and rooted aquatic
plants also deliver oxygen to water through photosynthesis.
• The main factor contributing to changes in dissolved oxygen levels is the build-up of
organic wastes. Decay of organic wastes consumes oxygen and is often concentrated in
summer, when aquatic animals require more oxygen to support higher metabolisms.
• Depletions in dissolved oxygen can cause major shifts in the kinds of aquatic organisms
found in water bodies.
• Temperature, pressure, and salinity affect the dissolved oxygen capacity of water. The
ratio of the dissolved oxygen content (ppm) to the potential capacity (ppm) gives the
percent saturation, which is an indicator of water quality.

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METHODS OF DETERMINATION OF DO IN WATER:
(1) Winkler Method
(2) Azide modification of Winkler Method
(3) Rideal Stewart method
(4) DO-meters

(1) Winkler Method


Its principle is that oxygen oxidizes manganese (Mn+2) to higher oxidation state then this
higher oxidation state manganese converts iodide ion (I-1) to iodine I2 and amount of free
iodide librated is equivalent to DO.

Mn+2 + 2OH-1 Mn(OH)2


Mn(OH)2 + 1/2O2 MnO2 + H2O
-1 +1
MnO2 + 2I + 4H Mn+2 + I2 + H2O

Then by titration with S2O3-2, thiosulphate ion (thiosulphate ion comes from sodium
thiosulphate), iodine can be calculated.
2S2O3-1 + I2 S4O6-2 + 2I-1

If we use 0.025 N Na2S2O3 then 1ml of titrant = 1mg of DO

(2) Azide modification of Winkler Method


If nitrites NO2-1 will present in water, they will change the results because they convert iodide
ions to iodine before performance of experiment. To remove NO2-1 sodium azides are added.

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PROCEDURE

1. Take BOD bottle (300 ml volume)


2. Fill the bottle with water sample.
3. Add 1 ml MnSO4 solution to it and mix uniformly with the help of pipette.
4. Add 1ml alkali azide iodide solution. On addition, if white ppts. are formed, then
there is no DO in water. Formation of Reddish brown ppts. Indicates the presence of
DO.
5. If Reddish brown ppts are formed, stopper the bottle and shake it upside down for 20
times and allow the ppts. To settle down for about 2 inches.
6. Add 1 ml Concentrated H2SO4 and again shake for about 8 times.
7. Take 200 ml of this water sample in a titration flask and titrate it with 0.025 N
Na2S2O3 till the appearance of light yellow color.
8. Then add 1ml starch solution. The color of solution becomes blue on this addition.
9. Again titrate it with 0.025N Na2S2O3 till the disappearance of blue color.
10. Note the volume of titrant used.
ml of titrant used = DO in mg/liter
The above formula is applicable if we use 200ml of water sample solution and 0.025N
Na2S2O3. General formula is given by
mean vol of titrant used x N x 8000
DO (mg/l) =
F x vol of sample in ml
Where,
vol of BOD bottle - vol of reagents used
F=
vol of BOD bottle

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OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS

DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Volume of
Sample Dissolved Mean Dissolved
Sample Sample Titrant
Volume Oxygen (DO) Oxygen (DO)
No. Description (Na2S2O3)used
(ml) (mg/lit) (mg/lit)
(ml)

200
1 Lab Prepared
100
200
2 Lab Prepared
100

3 Lab Prepared

Comments:

Questions:
1) What are the factors upon which solubility of oxygen depends?

2) Why starch is added when light yellow colour appears?

3) Write the significance of this test in Environmental Engineering.

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4) What type of titration is involved in above test?

5) What is azide modification?

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