Measurement of Absorbance and Fluorescence as Potential Alternatives to Bod

摘要

The measured Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of a range of water samples, including river waters, sewage effluents and industrial effluents, has been compared with (a) absorbance and (b) fluorescence determinations on the same samples. Absorbance at 650 nm showed a moderately high, positive correlation with BOD for settled sewage effluent samples. This raises the possibility of the use of absorbance measurements in the development of a relatively inexpensive field instrument (or on-line monitor) which would provide an early warning of deteriorating quality in a sewage effluent discharge. The relationship between the relative importance of true absorbance (by dissolved species) and attenuation by particulate matter, as indicators of oxygen, demand should be investigated further. No clear association between absorbance and BOD was observed for industrial effluents or river waters. Sample fluorescence was not associated with BOD for sewage effluents, industrial effluents, or river waters.