Measuring and managing Alkalinity is an important step in a wide variety of treatment applications. From wastewater treatment to drinking water and the beverage industry, as well as in manufacturing, chemical production, and boiler/cooling water, proper alkalinity measurement and treatment ensures process stability, human and environmental health, and preservation of infrastructure.

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

Why Measure Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)?

When treated wastewater is discharged into the environment, it can introduce pollution in the form of organic content to receiving waters. High levels of wastewater COD indicate concentrations of organics that can deplete dissolved oxygen in the water, leading to negative environmental and regulatory consequences. To help determine the impact and ultimately limit the amount of organic pollution in water, oxygen demand is an essential measurement.

At Hach®, find the testing equipment, resources, training and software for COD measurement and management during water treatment.

Featured COD Product Categories

Online COD Analysers

COD Meter

Complete online solutions for your water analysis needs.

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Benchtop COD Instruments

DR3900

Benchtop instruments can provide fast, accurate COD measurements when quick results are needed.

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Digital Thermostats

LT200

Designed to save time and ensure accuracy during testing.

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Water COD Reagents and Consumables

LCK314

Hach’s quality test kits, reagents and chemistries are quick, accurate and easy to use.

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Which Processes Require Chemical Oxygen Demand Monitoring?

Influent waters entering wastewater plants are high in organics and the wastewater plant must reduce the “organic loading” before discharging water to a receiving body.

Knowledge of oxygen demand is useful throughout the treatment for measuring waste loading, evaluating the efficiency of the process and ensuring compliance with regulations for the oxygen demand of effluent.

  • Primary Treatment:

    Clarifiers, or sedimentation basins, slow the flow of the wastewater to allow suspended solids to settle. Surface skimmers collect any floating fats, oils and greases. With the use of this mechanical and physical means, approximately 30% of organic matter is removed from the wastewater and is routed to the solids management area of the plant.
  • Secondary Treatment:

    This process uses living organisms to aid in reducing organics. In the aeration basin, bacteria and microorganisms convert biodegradable organic matter to carbon dioxide and water. With this conversion, organics are reduced, thereby reducing oxygen demand.
  • Discharge Limits:

    Discharge limits vary from plant to plant depending on the characteristics of the receiving water, effects on aquatic life, recreational uses and other factors. Discharge permits may stipulate a specific maximum concentration for BOD or COD, or a percent removal. Some plants require achieving as much as 90% removal of oxygen demand.

For compliance, it’s necessary to measure BOD or COD in the influent water as it enters the plant, before mechanical screening processes and at the end of the treatment at the discharge point.

When selecting a method for analyzing oxygen demand, it’s important to consider the following:

  • Specific testing application
  • Oxidant that will be used
  • Completion time
  • Accuracy and precision of the measurement
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This sedimentation basin slows the flow of wastewater to allow suspended solids to settle.

How is Chemical Oxygen Demand Monitored?

LCK314

Hach EZ Series COD Analyzer

Online Process Testing

COD BioTectors

COD Testing Advantages

COD Testing Limitations

Frequently Asked Questions

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