BOD Analyser BioMonitor

LAR’s BioMonitor is the ultimate online BOD analyser for the determination of biological oxygen demand (BOD), respiration and toxicity in waste water.

Similar to the functional principle of a biological treatment plant, the waste water to be tested is mixed with activated sludge and air and continuously passed through the measurement cascade. Upon exiting the reactor cascade, the residual oxygen of the air is carried out and is measured with an oxygen sensor, wherein the volume flows of waste water, activated sludge and air are well defined or controlled. Important in this process is that the system’s activated sludge is used to actually simulate the biology of the plant. Thus, the measurement results are of special relevance to the circumstances of the treatment plant and are always directly proportionate to their specific characteristics.

In contrast to the standard BOD₅ method the BioMonitor measures the total BOD. In the BOD₅ measurement nitrification inhibitors are added to the sample, which suppress the degradation of nitrogen compounds. This results in the determination of the degradation of carbon compounds (carbonaceous-BOD) only. The nitrification part is not considered in BOD₅ measurements.

As a waste water treatment plant can be reliably controlled and monitored only by the determination of total BOD, the BOD₅ is insufficient for this purpose.

Alternatively to the BOD₅ measurement LAR AG provides an online respirometer, which operates like a miniature waste water treatment plant: The BioMonitor.

The BOD analyser degrates nitrogen and carbon compounds in special waste water cascades, so that the meaningful total BOD can be determined within 4 minutes.

The measurement of the BOD takes place in less than 4 minutes and therefore it is faster than the BOD₅ measurement, which requires 5 days. This speed guarantees that very short peaks can be determined very well during a daily cycle.