When conducting a BOD calculation, what do you do with the seed correction factor?

When calculating Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), addressing the seed correction factor is essential to obtain an accurate measurement of the organic matter present in the sample. The seed correction factor accounts for the oxygen demand contributed by the seed itself, which is often a mixture of microorganisms used to initiate the biodegradation process.

Subtracting this seed correction factor from the BOD result is necessary because the BOD measurement includes both the oxygen demand from the sample and the demand from the seed. To isolate the oxygen demand that is exclusively from the wastewater sample, it is crucial to remove the contribution made by the seed. This ensures that the final result accurately reflects only the organic pollutants in the sample, making the assessment of wastewater quality more reliable.

In summary, the proper handling of the seed correction factor through subtraction directly improves the accuracy of BOD calculations, providing a clearer picture of the sample’s pollution potential.