FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

TECHNOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

LABORATORY REPORT

COURSE CODE BNP 21403

EXPERIMENT CODE & TITLE EXP.2 - CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD)

EXPERIMENT DATE

SECTION/GROUP NO. 4/2

1. MUHAMMAD IRSYAD BIN AHMAD NAZRI

2. RIDHWAN HAQIM BIN ROHIZAN
GROUP MEMBERS 3. MUHAMMAD ZULHILMI BIN MAT NAIN
4. MUHAMMAD SHUKRI BIN YUSMERA

LECTURER/ INSTRUCTOR DR. NAJEEHA BINTI MOHD APANDI

SUBMISSION DATE 28/12/2023

RECEIVED DATE AND STAMP

EXAMINER’S COMMENTS

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 STUDENT CODE OF ETHICS

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

I hereby declare that I have prepared this report with my own efforts. I also admit to not accept or
provide any assistance in preparing this report and anything that is in it is true.

1) Group Leader : Irsyad (Signature)

Name : MUHAMMAD IRSYAD BIN AHMAD NAZRI

Matrix No. : AN220098

2) Group Member 1 : Ridhwan (Signature)

Name : RIDHWAN HAQIM BIN ROHIZAN

Matrix No. : CN220119

3) Group Member 2 : Zulhimi (Signature)

Name : MUHAMMAD ZULHILMI BIN MAT NAIN

Matrix No. : CN220131

4) Group Member 4 : Shukri (Signature)

Name : MUHAMMAD SHUKRI BIN YUSMERA

Matrix No. : AN220145

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

NO TOPIC PAGE
1 OBJECTIVE 4
2 INTRODUCTION 4
3 PROCEDURE 5-8
4 EQUIPMENT 9
5 CALCULATION 10
6 DISCUSSION 11-12
7 ADVANCED QUESTIONS 12
8 CONCLUSION 13

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1.0 OBJECTIVE
a) To understand the concept of chemical oxygen demand in a given water/wastewater sample.
b) To determine the organic oxidisable matter content of water samples.

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Chemical Oxygen Demand, commonly referred to as COD, is a crucial water quality parameter used
to assess the amount of organic pollutants in water. It is a measure of the quantity of oxygen required
to oxidise and chemically break down organic substances in water, through a series of chemical
reactions. COD is expressed in milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre of water (mg/L).

The determination of COD is significant in environmental and wastewater management, as it

provides insights into the potential impact of organic pollutants on water bodies. Unlike Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (BOD), which measures the oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the
biological degradation of organic matter, COD relies on the use of strong chemical oxidizing agents
to break down both biodegradable and non-biodegradable organic substances.

The COD test involves adding a strong oxidising agent, typically potassium dichromate, to a water
sample. This oxidising agent reacts with the organic compounds in the water, leading to the release of
oxygen. The amount of oxygen consumed in this process is then quantified, providing a numerical
value for COD. The results are often expressed in terms of oxygen equivalents, reflecting the
oxidizability of the organic matter.

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3.0 PROCEDURE

Sample Preparation:
I. a. The sample was poured into a 250-mL beaker.
II. b. The sample was gently stirred with a magnetic stir plate.

Reactor Preheating:
I. a. The DRB200 Reactor was turned on, and it was preheated to 150 °C.

Digestion Reagent Vials:

I. a. Caps were removed from two COD Digestion Reagent Vials, ensuring use for the
appropriate range.

Prepared Sample:
I. a. One vial was held at a 45-degree angle.
II. b. Using a clean volumetric pipet, 2.00 mL of the sample was added to the vial.

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Blank Preparation:
I. a. A second vial was held at a 45-degree angle.
II. b. Using a clean volumetric pipet, 2.00 mL of deionized water was added to the vial.

Vial Preparation:
I. a. The vials were capped tightly.
II. b. Vials were rinsed with water and wiped with a clean paper towel.

Mixing and Reactor Loading:

I. a. The vials were held by the cap and inverted gently several times to mix.
II. b. Vials were inserted into the preheated DRB200 Reactor, and the protective lid was closed.
III. c. Note: The sample vials became very hot during mixing.

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Digestion:
I. a. The vials were heated for two hours.

II. b. The reactor was turned off, and a wait of about 20 minutes was observed for the vials to
cool to 120 °C or less.

Cooling and Storage:

I. Each vial was inverted several times while still warm.
II. The vials were placed into a rack and cooled to room temperature.

Spectrophotometer Setup
I. The Hach DR6000 was turned on.
II. The COD ultra-low range (431), low range (430), or high range (435) test was selected.

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Vial Preparation:
I. The outside of the vials was cleaned with a damp towel followed by a dry one.

Zero Calibration:
I. The blank was inserted into the 16-mm cell holder.

II. ZERO was pressed. The display showed: 0.0 mg/L COD.

Sample Analysis:
I. The sample vial was inserted into the 16-mm cell holder.
II. Results were displayed in mg/L COD.

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4.0 EQUIPMENT

1. Beaker 2. Pipette 3. Magnetic stir 4. COD vials

plate

5. HACH 6. HACH
DRB200 DR6000
Reactor Reactor

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5.0 CALCULATION

Table 1: COD concentration of samples

COD concentration of samples (Reactor Digestion Method), mg/L COD
Blank Sample 1 Sample 2
0 37 29

1. Blank: 0 mg/L COD

2. Sample 1: 37 mg/L COD
3. Sample 2: 29 mg/L
COD Blank (0 mg/L
COD):
The blank is used to account for any background interference or contamination in the
reagents or equipment. In an ideal situation, the blank should have a COD concentration
close to zero, indicating that there is no contamination or interference in your analysis.

Sample 1 (37 mg/L COD):

Sample 1 has a COD concentration of 37 mg/L. This indicates the amount of oxygen
required to oxidize the organic matter in the sample. A higher COD value suggests a
higher level of organic pollution in the water.
Sample 2 (29 mg/L COD):

Sample 2 has a COD concentration of 29 mg/L. Comparing this to Sample 1, it appears

to have a lower COD concentration, indicating potentially lower organic pollution.

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6.0 DISCUSSION

A COD concentration of 0 mg/L in the blank signifies that no detectable organic content was
introduced during the testing process, serving as a crucial baseline for the method. This ensures that
any COD observed in the samples accurately reflects their composition. Moving on to the sample
results, Sample 1, with a COD concentration of 37 mg/L, and Sample 2, with 29 mg/L, indicate the
presence of oxidizable organic compounds. The higher COD in Sample 1 suggests a greater organic
load compared to Sample 2. The COD test is based on the oxidation of both organic and inorganic
substances, reflecting overall oxygen demand. Elevated values typically signify increased organic
pollution.

Theoretical considerations involve understanding the chemical reactions in COD

determination. High COD values in water samples may signal pollution from industrial discharges,
domestic sewage, or agricultural runoff. These results guide environmental management by
identifying pollution sources and informing appropriate treatment processes. Variations in COD
values between samples may be attributed to differences in temperature, pH, and the nature of
organic compounds in the water, all of which can influence COD results.

According to National Water Quality Standards, the COD of the water samples falls under
class III, with a range of 25-50 mg/L. Class III water requires extensive treatment before use for
water supply, but it can also be utilised for livestock drinking, supporting economic activities and
tolerant species.

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7.0 ADVANCED QUESTIONS

- Why is it important to determine COD value in wastewater treatment?

COD measurement provides a quantitative assessment of organic matter in wastewater,

encompassing both biodegradable and non-biodegradable components. This understanding aids
in estimating pollution levels and devising appropriate treatment methods. COD reflects the
oxygen demand required to oxidise organic and inorganic substances in wastewater. Higher
COD levels indicate an increased need for oxygen, which is vital in assessing potential impacts
on aquatic environments. Insufficient oxygen concentrations can harm aquatic life and degrade
water quality.

Wastewater treatment facilities employ various techniques to eliminate pollutants. The

COD value is crucial in developing and enhancing treatment procedures, such as chemical
coagulation, biological treatment, and activated sludge. It helps determine the treatment
capacity needed to effectively reduce organic loads.

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8.0 CONCLUSION

In summary, the COD results indicate that Sample 1 has a higher level of organic pollution
than Sample 2. It's important to consider the experiment's specific context and the water source for
more meaningful conclusions. Elevated COD levels may signal increased organic contaminants, with
potential implications depending on the application, such as drinking water or industrial wastewater.
The blank COD concentration of 0 mg/L ensures minimal interference or contamination in the
analysis, essential for result reliability.

The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) analysis provides valuable insights into organic
pollution levels in water or wastewater samples. A blank COD concentration of 0 mg/L suggests
minimal interference, crucial for result reliability. COD measures the oxygen required to oxidize
organic matter, and Sample 1's higher COD value (37 mg/L) indicates a greater concentration of
oxidizable organic compounds than Sample 2 (29 mg/L). Lower COD in Sample 2 suggests a
relatively lower level of organic pollution. COD analysis quantifies oxidizable organic matter,
including both biodegradable and non-biodegradable substances, offering an effective way to assess
overall organic load.

In summary, COD analysis quantifies organic oxidizable matter in water samples, providing
valuable information for assessing water quality and environmental health. Interpretation should
consider local regulations, and ongoing monitoring is crucial for effective water management.

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