biochemical oxygen demand

bi·o·chem·i·cal ox·y·gen de·mand (BOD),

the rate at which dissolved oxygen is consumed by an organism (often, a microorganism) or a culture of cells.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

biochemical oxygen demand

n.

The amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in a sample of water, such as that polluted by sewage. It is used as a measure of the degree of water pollution. Also called biological oxygen demand.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

biochemical oxygen demand

The amount of O2 that aerobic bacteria require for oxidative metabolism when in aqueous organic matter—e.g., sewage.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

an empirical standardized laboratory test designed to measure the oxygen requirements (or demands) of a given EFFLUENT. It is an approximate measure of biochemically degradable organic matter in a water sample. In its simplest form BOD is measured by taking a water sample of known volume, incubating it in the dark for a known period (usually five days), and measuring the oxygen levels at the start and end of the period. During the test the oxygen levels will have been reduced by bacteria in proportion to the amount of organic matter present.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005