Importance of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
The following are the importance of biochemical oxygen demand:
- BOD helps in measuring the amount of organic matter present in soils, sewages, sediment, garbage, sludge, etc.
- Measuring BOD levels helps in identifying polluted water sources and implementing appropriate measures to clean them. BOD plays an important role in determining the health of aquatic ecosystems. High levels of BOD indicate the presence of pollutants in water bodies, which can lead to a decrease in dissolved oxygen and harm aquatic plants and animals.
- It also plays a major role during the secondary treatment of water in Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). During secondary treatment, aerobic bacteria and fungi grow by consuming the organic waste present in water in an aeration tank and together form a mass known as Floc. When the amount of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) becomes constant in the aeration tank, it means that BOD becomes zero and no more oxygen is getting consumed and effluent along with floc is sent into the settling tank
- It also helps in measuring the rate of respiration in organisms.
- It also plays a major role in the medicinal & pharmaceutical industries.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand – Affecting Factors and Significance
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) stands for biochemical oxygen demand, and it refers to the amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to break down organic matter in water. In the field of environmental science, one principal factor that helps us in measuring water quality is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). BOD helps us to understand the level of pollution and its effects on aquatic life. This article covers Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), the significance of BOD, Measurement of BOD, Factors Affecting BOD, Effects of High BOD, and Methods to Reduce BOD in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)?
- Importance of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- How BOD is measured?
- Factors Affecting Biochemical Oxygen Demand
- Effects of High Biochemical Oxygen Demand
- Methods to Reduce Biochemical Oxygen Demand
- Significance of BOD
- Sources of BOD