Name:
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

Description:
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is a measure of the amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidize organic and inorganic substances in water or wastewater. It is an important water quality parameter that indicates the level of pollution in a water body, particularly from organic compounds and other oxygen-demanding materials. COD is typically expressed in milligrams of oxygen per liter (mg/L) and is used to assess the overall potential of a sample to deplete dissolved oxygen in aquatic environments, which can affect aquatic life. It is determined by oxidizing the organic matter in the sample using a strong chemical oxidant, often potassium dichromate, in an acidic solution under heat. The higher the COD value, the greater the concentration of pollutants present.