EFFECT OF pH ON THE RATE OF BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND OF SEWAGE

Abstract

The investigation on the "Effect of pH on Rate of Biochemical_ Oxygen Demand of Sewage" was undertaken under the guidance of Dr. S.K.Mukherjee and Sri I.P.Saraswat. In a previous work done in this laboratory, an investigation on the effect of temperature and period of incubation on BOD of domestic sewage was undertaken by Seth (141. A need for more systematic study on the effect of some variables, "such as, temperature, pH, toxicity, essential minerals and nutrients, Chlorinatiom etc. on BOD of sewage was felt, and a general Scheme was prepared with a view to make a detailed investigation on the BOD of sewage. A complete elucidation of the above scheme requires many sided investigations. To start with, the study on the effect of pH on BOD of domBstic sewage (which is the main waste disch.wge in India), was alloted to the author, with a view to find out the suitable conditions for the treatment and disposal problems. With the developmeat of various industries and rapid growing population, the disposal of industrial wastes and domestic sewage has become a serious problem in many parts of the world. If a raw or partly treated sewage or waste is dischaged into the natural body of water, it m nstitutes pollution, vhich may have hazardous effect on public hpalth and aquatic life. It is thus the duty of chemists axi4 sanitary