COD Load Calculator Kg/Day

Understanding COD Load Calculation

COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) load is a critical parameter in water quality assessment and wastewater treatment. It measures the amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidize organic and inorganic matter in water.

What is COD Load?

COD load quantifies the total amount of oxidizable matter in wastewater, expressed in kilograms per day (kg/day). It provides a rapid assessment of water pollution levels and is widely used in industrial wastewater monitoring.

COD Load Formula

The formula to calculate COD load is:

COD Load (kg/day) = COD Concentration (mg/L) × Flow Rate (m³/day) ÷ 1000

COD Concentration

COD concentration is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L) and represents the amount of oxygen consumed during the chemical oxidation of water contaminants using a strong chemical oxidant like potassium dichromate.

Flow Rate

Flow rate is the volume of wastewater passing through a system per unit time, measured in cubic meters per day (m³/day) for this calculation.

Key Differences Between COD and BOD

• COD measures all chemically oxidizable matter, while BOD only measures biologically oxidizable matter
• COD results are available in hours, while BOD requires 5 days
• COD values are typically higher than BOD values for the same sample
• COD is less specific but more reproducible than BOD

Example Calculation

For wastewater with COD of 400 mg/L and flow rate of 750 m³/day:

COD Load = 400 mg/L × 750 m³/day ÷ 1000 = 300 kg/day

Importance in Wastewater Treatment

COD load calculations are essential for:

• Industrial wastewater characterization
• Treatment plant design and operation
• Regulatory compliance monitoring
• Toxicity assessment of wastewater
• Evaluating treatment process efficiency

Typical COD Values