BOD FLASK Meaning and
Definition
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A BOD flask, also known as a Biochemical Oxygen Demand flask, is a specialized piece of laboratory glassware used for conducting Biochemical Oxygen Demand tests. It is airtight and typically made of borosilicate glass to withstand the necessary experimental conditions.
The BOD flask typically has a capacity of 300 mL to 2 L, with a wide base and a long narrow neck. The wide base allows for easy mixing and aeration of the sample, while the narrow neck minimizes the exposure of the liquid to the surrounding air during the experiment. It also features a ground glass stopper or airtight cap to maintain the airtight seal and prevent the escape of dissolved oxygen during incubation.
The primary purpose of the BOD flask is to determine the amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to degrade organic matter in a water sample. The sample is collected in the flask along with necessary nutrients and a seed inoculum of microorganisms. The flask is then sealed and incubated for a specific time period at a controlled temperature. During this incubation, microorganisms consume oxygen while breaking down the organic matter in the sample. The decrease in dissolved oxygen is measured at the beginning and end of the incubation period using an oxygen sensor.
The BOD flask is an essential tool in environmental and wastewater laboratories as it helps to assess the quality of water by measuring the level of organic pollution and the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes.
Etymology of BOD FLASK
The term "BOD flask" is derived from the acronym BOD, which stands for Biochemical Oxygen Demand. The Biochemical Oxygen Demand is a measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the breakdown of organic matter in a water sample. The BOD flask is a specific type of laboratory glassware used for conducting BOD tests, and it is designed to hold the water samples while allowing the microorganisms to consume oxygen. Therefore, the term "BOD flask" is simply a combination of the acronym BOD and the word flask, indicating the specific purpose of the glassware.
