Factors influencing biodegradable dissolved organic carbon measurement

The inocula requirements and other experimental conditions for the biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) procedure have been investigated and optimized to facilitate its use as a routine parameter for characterizing treatment plant performance. Initial inocula of unfiltered secondary effluent, commercial biochemical oxygen demand seed, mixed-liquor suspended solids (MLSS), and incubation temperatures of 20 and 37 degrees C were examined using standard solutions of known DOC, treatment plant effluents, and ozonated treatment plant effluents. Among all inocula tested, MLSS provides the fastest BDOC exertion rate. It is possible to measure BDOC within five days using a larger volume of MLSS inoculum. The results from this research may be used to support the development of a standard BDOC method for water quality assessment.