METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHEMICAL-FREE DETERMINATION OF THE CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (CSB) IN AQUEOUS SAMPLES

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and to a device for chemical-free determination of the chemical oxygen demand (CSB) in aqueous samples. The problem addressed by the invention is that of developing a method that compensates for the disadvantages of the standard methods and, at the same time, is at least as effective as said standard methods, in that the method is able to determine the CSB rapidly and with a high measurement frequency in a chemical-free manner, and in the process is convenient, requires a low level of personnel and should be simple to automate. The problem is solved in that the chemical oxygen demand of aqueous samples is determined by nonspecific oxidation of water components by an electrode (11) assisted by (ultra)sound from a sound source (15) in a frequency range in which no significant quantities of oxidative species are formed, i.e. below the cavitation threshold.