Dissolved Oxygen in Waste Water: Experiment No.4
Dissolved Oxygen in Waste Water: Experiment No.4
EXPERIMENT NO.4
4.1 OBJECTIVE
To determine the quantity of dissolved oxygen present in the given waste water
sample
4.2 APPARATUS
DO bottles
Pipette
DO Meter
4.3 REAGENTS
MgSO4
FeCL2
CaCl2
UNITS
DO is usually expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or Parts per million (ppm).
4.4.2 SOURCE OF DO
Oxygen gets into water bodies when:
Oxygen from the atmosphere dissolves and mixes into the waste water surface.
Water flowing (streams, rivers and oceans) have high speed, which helps
oxygen from the air to mix.
Photosynthesis in the water bodies
releases oxygen. Algae releases oxygen
during photosynthesis.
Good
Dissolved Oxygen= 5 mg/l
Fair
2 mg/l < Dissolved Oxygen< 5 Mg/L
Poor
2 mg/l< Dissolved Oxygen
Change in the dissolved oxygen levels can cause changes in the types and numbers
of aquatic macro invertebrates, plants and animals living in an ecosystem. Dissolved
oxygen levels change and vary according to the time of day, the weather and the
temperature. A decrease in the dissolved oxygen levels is usually an indication of an
entry of some organic pollutant.
Total dissolved gas concentrations in water should not exceed 110 percent.
Concentrations above this level can be harmful to aquatic life. Fish in waters
containing excessive dissolved gases may suffer from "gas bubble disease"; however,
this is a very rare occurrence. The bubbles block the flow of blood through blood
vessels causing death. External bubbles can also occur and be seen on fins, on skin
and on other tissue
Dissolved oxygen is absolutely essential for the survival of all aquatic organisms (not
only fish but also invertebrates such as crabs, clams, zooplankton, etc.). Moreover,
oxygen affects a vast number of other water indicators, not only biochemical but
aesthetic ones like the odor, clarity and taste.
Determinations of DO serve as the basis of the BOD test. The rate of biological
oxidation can be measured by determining residual dissolved oxygen in a system at
various intervals of time.
4.6 PROCEDURE
Take three samples of waste water
Fill each bottle with waste water sample.
Dilute the sample
Calibrate the DO meter according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Place the probe in the sample bottle.
Set the meter to measure temperature, and allow the temperature reading to
stabilize. Record the temperature
Switch the meter to read dissolved oxygen.
4.8 COMMENTS:
4.9 REFERENCES
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/bayecosystem/dissolvedoxygen
http://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water
quality/dissolved-oxygen/
http://www.mymobilebay.com/stationdata/whatisDO.htm