A METHOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF BIODEGRADABLE ORGANIC-CARBON IN WATERS

In the last few years several methods have been proposed for determining biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) in waters. A modification of an original method for measuring BDOC is proposed. This method is suitable for discrete samples and for measuring the biodegradability of organic compounds dissolved in water. It consists of a dynamic procedure that measures the decrease in the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the sample of water. The sample is recirculated through a glass column containing a biofilm attached to a novel support medium. The method has been used to study waters at different steps in a water-treatment process and to measure the biodegradability of different dissolved organic substances in water.