10.

0 EXPERIMENT ON DETERMINATION OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN

Sl. No. Contents

Preamble

10.1 Aim

10.2 Introduction

10.2.1 Environmental Significance

10.3 Principle

10.4 Materials Required

10.4.1 Apparatus Required

10.4.2 Chemicals Required

10.5 Sample Handling and Preservation

10.5.1 Precautions

10.6 Procedure

10.6.1 Preparation of Reagents

10.6.2 Testing of Water Sample

10.7 Calculation

10.7.1 Table

10.7.2 Data Sheet

10.8 Interpretation of Results

10.9 Inference

10.10 Evaluation
10.0 EXPERIMENT ON DETERMINATION OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN

PREAMBLE:
“How to determine dissolved oxygen in Water and Wastewater”.
Test procedure is in accordance to IS: 3025 (Part 38) - Reaffirmed 2003.
In addition to our Indian Standard, we also discuss in brief regarding the procedure
stated in
(1) APHA Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater - 20th
Edition. Method 4500-O G.
(2) Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes, EPA-600/4-79-020,
USEPA, Method 360.1.
10.1 AIM
To determine dissolved oxygen (DO) in the given water sample with the
stipulations as per IS: 3025 (Part 38) - Reaffirmed 2003.
10.2 INTRODUCTION
Before performing this experiment, few questions may arise to the learners:
1. What is meant by Dissolved Oxygen (DO)? Is it oxygen in dissolved form?
2. Why we need to determine DO?
3. What are the methods available to determine DO?
4. Is it measured in natural water or wastewater?
5. Whether is it mandatory as per our codal provision to determine DO?

The term Dissolved Oxygen is used to describe the amount of oxygen dissolved in
a unit volume of water. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is essential for the maintenance of
healthy lakes and rivers. It is a measure of the ability of water to sustain aquatic
life.

The dissolved oxygen content of water is influenced by the source, raw water
temperature, treatment and chemical or biological processes taking place in the
distribution system.

The presence of oxygen in water is a good sign. Depletion of dissolved oxygen in

water supplies can encourage the microbial reduction of nitrate to nitrite and
sulfate to sulfide. It can also cause an increase in the concentration of ferrous iron
in solution, with subsequent discoloration at the tap when the water is aerated.
Hence, analysis of dissolved oxygen is an important step in water pollution control
and wastewater treatment process control. There are various methods available to
measure Dissolved Oxygen, which we will discuss in detail.

In a healthy body of water such as a lake, river, or stream, the dissolved oxygen is
about 8 parts per million. The minimum DO level of 4 to 5 mg/L or ppm is desirable
for survival of aquatic life.

Now imagine that a source of oxygen demanding wastes, such as feed lot, a paper
mill or a food processing plant, is built besides the river. The facility begins
operating and discharging wastes into the river.

This increases the BOD and affects the concentration of DO in the waters
downstream.

The wastes serve as the food for certain aerobic bacteria. as it moves
downstream, the conc. of bacteria increases. Because these bacteria remove
oxygen from water, their population increase causes a decline in the amount of
DO.

Beyond certain point, most of the wastes break down. The conc. of DO rises as the
river recovers oxygen from the atmosphere and aquatic plants.
Thus DO test is the basis for BOD test which is an important parameter to evaluate
organic pollution potential of a waste.

It is necessary for all aerobic biological wastewater treatment processes to control

the rate of aeration.
10.2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE
Drinking water should be rich in dissolved oxygen for good taste.
DO test is used to evaluate the pollution strength of domestic and industrial waste.
Higher values of DO may cause corrosion of Iron and Steel.
Algae growth in water may release oxygen during its photosynthesis and DO may
even shoot upto 30 mg/L.
Oxygen is poorly soluble in water. Its solubility is about 14.6 for pure water at 0°C
under normal atmospheric pressure and it drops to 7 mg/l at 35°C.
Higher temperature, biological impurities, Ammonia, Nitrates, ferrous iron,
chemicals such as hydrogen sulphide and organic matter reduce DO values.
Aerobic bacteria thrive when oxygen is available in plenty. Aerobic conditions do
prevail when sufficient DO is available within water. End products of aerobiosis are
stable and are not foul smelling.
It is necessary to know DO levels to assess quality of raw water and to keep a
check on stream pollution.
DO test is the basis for BOD test which is an important parameter to evaluate
organic pollution potential of a waste.
DO test is necessary for all aerobic biological wastewater treatment processes to
control the rate of aeration.

10.3 PRINCIPLE
Dissolved Oxygen can be measured either by titrimetric or electrometric method.
(1) Titrimetric Method
Titrimetric method is based on the oxidizing property of DO while the electrometric
method (using membrane electrodes) is based on the rate of diffusion of molecular
oxygen across a membrane. It is most accurate method to determine DO.

There are different titrimetric methods based on the nature of sample to be tested.
(a) Winkler Method
(b) Azide Modification
(c) Alum Flocculation Modification
(d) Permanganate Modification
However, in all the above the basic principle remains same.
Choice of the method depends upon the type of sample to be tested

Azide Modification:
In this method, interference caused by nitrate is removed effectively. Presence of
nitrate is most interference in biologically treated effluent and incubated BOD
samples.
Alum Flocculation Modification:
If the sample contains suspended solids (especially effluent samples), then this
method will be suitable.
Permanganate Modification:
If the sample contains iron (Fe2+) ions. Addition of 1mL of potassium fluoride and
azide solution can be adopted to suppress the interference due to (Fe3+).
This method is not useful when the sample contains sulphites, thiosulphates and
high BOD.
The Titrimetric principle:
Divalent Manganese salt in solution is precipitated by strong alkali to divalent
manganese hydroxide.

Addition of Potassium iodide or Potassium hydroxide is added to create a pinkish

brown precipitate.
In the alkaline solution, dissolved oxygen present in the sample rapidly oxidized to
form trivalent or higher valency hydroxide.

MnO(OH)2 appears as a brown precipitate. There is some confusion about whether

the oxidised manganese is tetravalent or trivalent. Some sources claim that
Mn(OH)3 is the brown precipitate, but hydrated MnO2 may also give the brown
colour.
Iodide ions are added and acidified (acid facilitates the conversion by the brown),
which reduces tetravalent hydroxides back to their stable divalent state thereby
liberating equivalent amount of iodine.

Thiosulphate solution is used, with a starch indicator, to titrate the iodine.

This iodine is equivalent to dissolved oxygen present in the sample.

(2) Electrometric Method
The electrode method offers several advantages over the titrimetric method
including speed, elimination or minimization of interferences, field compatibility,
continuous monitoring and insitu measurement.

Dissolved oxygen can be measured by a special sensor kept in an electrochemical

cell by the amperometric method.

The cell comprises a sensing electrode, a reference electrode and a supporting

electrolyte, a semi-permeable membrane, which served dual function.

It separates the water sample from the electrolyte, and at the same time, permits
only the dissolved oxygen to diffuse from the water sample through the membrane
into the supporting electrolyte.

The diffusion current created by migration of oxygen through a permeable

membrane is linearly proportional to the concentration of molecular oxygen in the
sample.
The diffusion current created by migration of oxygen through a permeable
membrane is linearly proportional to the concentration of molecular oxygen in the
sample.

The sample is treated with manganous sulphate, alkaline-iodide-azide reagent and

finally sulfuric acid. The first two chemicals combine with dissolved oxygen to form
a compound which, when acid is added, releases free iodine (from the potassium
iodide).
10.4 MATERIALS REQUIRED
10.4.1 APPARATUS REQUIRED

1. Burette
2. Burette stand
3. 300 mL glass stoppered BOD bottles
4. 500 mL conical flask
5. Pipettes with elongated tips
6. Pipette bulb
7. 250 mL graduated cylinders
8. Wash bottle
10.4.2 CHEMICALS REQUIRED

1. Manganous sulphate solution

2. Alkaline iodide-azide solution
3. Sulfuric acid, Concentrated
4. Starch indicator solution
5. Sodium thiosulphate
6. Distilled or deionized water
7. Potassium Hydroxide
8. Potassium Iodide
9. Sodium Azide
10.5 SAMPLE HANDLING AND PRESERVATION
Preservation of sample is not practical. Because biological activity will continue
after a sample has been taken, changes may occur during handling and storage.

If analysis is to be carried out with in two hours of collection, cool storage is not
necessary. If analysis can not be started with in the two hours of sample collection
to reduce the change in sample, keep all sample at 4° C.

Do not allow samples to freeze. Analysis should begin as shown as possible. Do

not open sample bottle before analysis.

Begin analysis within six hours of sample collection.

10.5.1 PRECAUTIONS
The experiment involves lot of solutions and additions of strong acid and alkali and
hence care should be taken.
• Dissolved oxygen concentrations may change drastically depending upon
depth, distance, temperature and period of sampling.
• If the sample was obtained by a sampling device of some kind, the water
cannot be simply poured into a BOD bottle, since this would cause aeration
of the sample. Instead, the sample must be drawn off from a tube located
near the bottom of the sampling device. Place the rubber tube into the
bottom of the BOD bottle and fill the bottle, again allowing the bottle to
overflow.
• For shallow depth use normal water samplers. However for depth greater
than 150 cm (5 ft), use Kemmerer Sample Bottles.
In the case of electrode method:
• Membrane-covered electrode systems minimize the interferences often
encountered with dropping mercury or rotating platinum electrodes.
• The sensing element is protected by an oxygen permeable membrane,
which serves as a diffusion barrier against matrix interference problems.

10.6 PROCEDURE:
For testing the given sample, first the reagents are required to be prepared.

10.6.1 PREPARATION OF REAGENTS

a) Manganous Sulphate Solution
Dissolve Manganese Sulphate
→ 480g of (or)
 → 400g of (or)
→ 364 g of
in freshly boiled and cooled distilled water, filter the solution and make up to
1000 mL (One litre). In this experiment, we are using Manganese sulphate
Mono hydrate,
Take 364 g Manganese sulphate Mono hydrate ( ) and transfer it
to the beaker. To dissolve the content, place it in the magnetic stirrer.

The solution should not give blue color by addition of acidified potassium
iodide solution and starch.
b) Alkaline Iodide Sodium Azide Solution
To prepare this reagent we are going to mix three different chemicals
Dissolve either
→ 500 g of Sodium Hydroxide (or)
→ 700 g of Potassium Hydroxide and
→ 135 g of Sodium Iodide (or)
→ 150 g of Potassium Iodide
To prepare this reagent, take 700 g of Potassium hydroxide and add 150 g
of potassium iodide and dissolve it in freshly boiled and cooled water, and
make up to 1000 mL (One litre).
Dissolve 10 g of Sodium Azide in 40 mL of distilled water and add
this with constant stirring to the cool alkaline iodide solution prepared.
c) Sodium Thiosulphate Stock Solution
Weigh approximately 25 g of sodium thiosulphate and
dissolve it in boiled distilled water and make up to 1000 mL. Add 1 g of
Sodium Hydroxide to preserve it.
d) Starch Indicator
Weigh 2 g of starch and dissolve in 100 mL of hot distilled water. In case if
you are going to preserve the starch indicator add 0.2 g of salicylic acid as
preservative.
e) Sulphuric Acid

10.6.2 TESTING OF SAMPLE

• Take two 300-mL glass stoppered BOD bottle and fill it with sample to be
tested. Avoid any kind of bubbling and trapping of air bubbles. Remember –
no bubbles!
(Or)
• Take the sample collected from the field. It should be collected in BOD bottle
filled upto the rim.

• Add 2mL of manganese sulfate to the BOD bottle by inserting the calibrated
pipette just below the surface of the liquid.

• Add 2 mL of alkali-iodide-azide reagent in the same manner.

• Squeeze the pipette slowly so no bubbles are introduced via the pipette (The
pipette should be dipped inside the sample while adding the above two
reagents. If the reagent is added above the sample surface, you will introduce
oxygen into the sample).

• If oxygen is present, a brownish-orange cloud of precipitate or floc will

appear.
• Allow it to settle for sufficient time in order to react completely with oxygen.

• Add 2 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid via a pipette held just above the
surface of the sample.
• Carefully stopper and invert several times to dissolve the floc.
• At this point, the sample is "fixed" and can be stored for up to 8 hours if kept
in a cool, dark place.

• Rinse the burette with sodium thiosulphate and then fill it with sodium
thiosulphate. Fix the burette to the stand.

• Measure out 203 mL of the solution from the bottle and transfer to an conical
flask.

• Titration needs to be started immediately after the transfer of the contents to

conical flask.
• Titrate it against sodium thiosulphate using starch as indicator. (Add 3 - 4
drops of starch indicator solution)

• End point of the titration is first disappearance of the blue color to colorless.

• Note down the volume of sodium thiosulphate solution added which gives the
dissolved oxygen in 7.9 mL
• Repeat the titration for concordant values.
10.7 CALCULATION
For determining the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the given water sample, the
readings are required to be tabulated.

10.7.1 TABLE

Burette Reading
Volume of Dissolved
Trial Temperature (mL) Volume of
Sample Oxygen
No. (ºC) Titrant (mL)
(mL) Initial Final (mg/L)

1.
2.
3.

Burette Solution: Sodium Thiosulphate

Pipette Solution: Sample
Indicator: Starch
End point : Disappearance of blue color
• For the calculation of DO the temperature at the time of measurement is 20º
C and the volume of sample taken is 200 mL.
• sodium thiosulphate is taken in the burette
• For the first titration the Initial reading is 0 mL and the final reading is 7.8. The
volume of sodium thiosulphate consumed to get the end point is 7.8 mL.
• For the second titration the Initial reading is 0 mL and the final reading is 7.9.
The volume of sodium thiosulphate consumed to get the end point is 7.9 mL.
• For the third titration the Initial reading is 0 mL and the final reading is 7.9.
The volume of sodium thiosulphate consumed to get the end point is 7.9 mL.
• For the second and third titration, we have achieved concordant value. So we
can go for the calculations.
 10.7.2 DATA SHEET

DETERMINATION OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN

DATA SHEET

Date Tested : August 30, 2010

Tested By : CEM OTC Class, Group A
Project Name : CEM, NITTTR Lab
Sample Number : BH1
Sample Location : Perungudi (Lat 12’ 57’’ 31.74 & Long 80’14’’ 8.82)
Sample Description : Surface water

Trial Temperature Volume of Burette Reading (mL) Volume of Dissolved

No. (ºC) Sample (mL) Initial Final Titrant (mL) Oxygen (mg/L)
1. 20.0 200 0 7.8 7.8 7.8
2. 20.0 200 0 7.9 7.9 7.9
3. 20.0 200 0 7.9 7.9 7.9

Model Calculation:

Volume of Sodium thiosulphate V1 = 7.9 mL

Normality of Sodium thiosulphate N1 = 0.025 N
Volume of Sample V2 = 203.0 mL

=7.9 mg/L

When a 200 mL sample is used, 1 mL of sodium thiosulphate solution

(0.025 M) is equivalent to 1 mg/L Dissolved Oxygen in the sample.

(If 7.9 mL of sodium thiosulphate was used, then the DO of the sample is
7.9 mg/L).
10.8 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
The Dissolved Oxygen in the given sample of water at 27ºC = 7.9 mg/L.

10.9 INFERENCE
Dissolved oxygen of the tested sample is 7.9 mg/L. Test results shows the water is
in healthy condition and fit for aquatic life. IS code does not mentioned minimum
standards for DO. However, for healthy water body, the dissolved oxygen is about
8 parts per million.

10.10 EVALUATION

1. Winkler titration method is based on _____ property of Dissolved Oxygen.

a) Reduction
b) Oxidation
c) Redox
d) Decomposition

2. Dissolved oxygen in the water mainly depends upon Organic content of the
water.

a) True
b) False

3. The ingredients of Alkali are NaOH, NaI

a) NaN4
b) NaN3
c) NaN2
d) NaN

4. The precipitate formed after the addition of MnSO4 and Alkali azide is _______.

a) Manganese Hydroxide
b) Sodium sulphate
c) Potassium sulphate
d) Manganese oxide

5. Dissolved Oxygen depends only on Physical Properties of the water.

a) True
b) False
6. Along the stream the increase in dissolved oxygen in water will be at the

a) riffles
b) warm pool
c) bank erosion
d) top

7. The dissolved Oxygen in potable water_______.

a) imparts freshness
b) improves taste
c) improves smell
d) imparts colour

8. Sulphide and Sulphur dioxide interfere in the determination of dissolved oxygen.

a) True
b) False

9. The sample obtained for testing Dissolved Oxygen can be preserved by

a) adding the reagents and stored at 10 to 20 for up to 8 hours
b) storing at room temperature for up to 24 hours
c) storing at 0 for up to 24 hours
d) adding the reagents and stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours

10. Minimum DO in the fresh water for the survival of aquatic life is
a) 0 mg/l
b) 2 mg/l
c) 8 mg/l
d) 4 mg/l
KEY TO ITEMS:

1) b
2) True
3) b
4) a
5) False
6) a
7) a
8) a
9) a
10) d