Reviewed by Anurag Mishra (Sr. Technical Consultant)
Suppose you have a lab monitoring water quality in a given region. Stakes are high—pollution, contamination, and ecological damage will be the cost if something goes awry. You need precision in the information, consistency with the conditions, and dependable results so that each drop of water is fit to drink for humans and the environment.
So, how can one make an accurate assessment of the state of our water bodies, assuring compliance with rigid environmental standards?
This is where the BOD Incubator comes into play.
So first and foremost, let me impart you the knowledge, regarding what precisely BOD implies.
It is measured by the amount of oxygen present in the liquid, that will be consumed by aerobic microorganisms. This further helps microorganisms in decomposing organic matter present in the water. The high value of BOD represents, a high level of organic pollution. This also suggests that it might reduce the level of oxygen in water.
The BOD stands for Biochemical Oxygen Demand, and the Incubator is a specially designed laboratory instrument used to incubate or cultivate, samples under precisely controlled low-temperature conditions. This device is extensively used in determining of the BOD levels in water samples, as well as the wastewater samples, as a key pointer of the organic pollution level.
To present this information in technical terms, a BOD incubator is a laboratory instrument that allows both, scientists and engineers, to measure the amount of oxygen, that is required to break down the organic matter in a water sample over a given period of time, usually five days.
TESTRONIX’s BOD incubator provides various useful features. Such as:
1. Temperature control through PT-100 sensor
2. Highly accurate test results under uniform temperature levels in the chamber
3. Grade imported Glass Wool insulation
4. Maximum Thermal Efficiency by insulation means.
5. Feather touch controls
6. Automatic heat cool operation control.
7. RTC-based timer controls
8. Inbuilt Auto tuning function
9. Provision to set PV and SV value
10. Inbuilt Calibration features with reference to the master PID controller
11. Heating, Cooling, Timer, Fan, and Alarm are all LED indications.
12. The Inbuilt Light Sensor allows the Automatic turning of Light in the Chamber when the door is opened.
13. A double door is provided with glass for easy inspection without distracting the testing
Without further ado, let us take a look at how a BOD incubator operates.
The first thing our BOD incubator does is provide a stable, low-temperature environment. Generally, this is lower than the ambient temperature. That's a common temperature needed for the BOD test.
In the following discussion, we explain the process briefly:
STEP 1
Sample Preparation
Collect liquid samples in small bottles. These may contain plant materials, soil particles, or other organic substances which may decompose with time.
STEP 2
Initial Measurement of Oxygen
At the first point, scientists will measure the level of oxygen at the start. One needs to be aware of how much oxygen the water sample contains at the start.
STEP 3
Place in the BOD Incubator
The bottles containing water samples are put in the BOD incubator. This incubator is adjusted to the desired temperature, usually at about 20°C, and will maintain that constant temperature—a factor that will prove important for the test.
STEP 4
Incubation
The samples are left in the incubator for approximately five days. The very small organisms that are in water have begun to decay the stuff that is in the water, like leaves or waste. In this process, they utilize oxygen in the water.
STEP 5
Measure Final Oxygen
After five days, the scientists will measure the oxygen in the water again. The difference between the first and second measurements will show how much oxygen was taken from the water. This difference shows how much the water was "dirty" with organic matter and how much it must be cleaned up.
In this simple explanation, a BOD incubator helps scientists determine the amount of work required to clean up a given liquid sample. It keeps the samples at the right temperature so that they get accurate results of just how much oxygen is being used to break down the waste in the liquid.
DIVE IN TO KNOW MORE!
BOD incubators are widely used in most environmental laboratories, wastewater treatment plants, research centers, and industrial facilities for monitoring water quality.
BOD testing is specifically designed for water samples. Testing non-water samples would require different equipment and methods.
Almost all BOD incubators are fitted with alarms and auto shut down to guard against over-temperature conditions and to ensure continuous operation.
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Phone: +91 9313 140 140
+91 9313 140 140 
info@testronixinstruments.com