Immobilised activated sludge based biosensor for biochemical oxygen demand measurement

Summary, in English

A biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor, based on an immobilised mixed culture of microorganisms in combination with a dissolved oxygen electrode, has been developed for the purpose of on-line monitoring of the biological treatment process for waste and wastewater. The sensor was designed for easy replacement of the biomembrane, thereby making it suitable for short-term use. The drawbacks of activated sludge based sensor, such as short sensor lifetime, were thereby circumvented. The sensor BOD measurements were carried out in the kinetic mode using a flow injection system, resulting in 25 s for one measurement followed by 4-8 min recovery time. Based on the results of normalised sensor responses, the OECD synthetic wastewater was considered to be a more suitable calibration solution in comparison with the GGA solution. Good agreement was achieved between the results of the sensor BOD measurement and those obtained from BOD5 analysis of a wastewater sample from a food-processing factory. Reproducibility of responses using one sensor was below +/-5.6% standard deviation. Reproducibility of responses using different sensors was within acceptable bias limits, viz. +/-15% standard deviation.

• Author: Jing Liu; Lovisa Björnsson; Bo Mattiasson
• Department/s: Biotechnology; Environmental and Energy Systems Studies
• Publishing year: 2000
• Language: English
• Pages: 883-893
• Publication/Series: Biosensors & Bioelectronics
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 12
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0956-5663(99)00064-0
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Industrial Biotechnology
• Keywords: Biochemical oxygen demand; Activated sludge; Microbial consortium; Kinetic mode; Dynamic mode; Wastewater; BOD sensor
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1873-4235