CONTINUOUS RBCOD MEASUREMENT

摘要

The invention provides a method and apparatus for providing periodical measurements of the real-time readily bio-degrad- able chemical oxygen demand (RBCOD) of a wastewater stream. The apparatus includes a bio-reactor (1) having an inlet (6) for accepting a continuous feed from the stream and an overflow outlet (7), whereby a sample volume can be maintained within the reactor. A feed rate is chosen to ensure an hydraulic retention time (HRT) i n the reactor sufficient for substantially complete oxi- dation of the readily biodegradable compounds in the feed. Air (2) is periodically passed through the sample volume for set peri- ods and the oxygen up-take (OUR) is determined by measuring the dissolved oxygen content via a probe (3) during the air-off periods. An RBCOD value is then calculated for each OUR value. The invention may be used to monitor the performance of was- tewater treatment plants.