Abstract
A COD (chemical oxygen demand) method involving dichromate oxidation in a digestion bomb heated in a microwave oven, was developed and tested for sewage samples. Oxidation was complete within 2 min and the method gave comparable results to more conventional open reflux and closed tube methods, which require a 2 h oxidation. Lower sulphuric acid concentrations were required for full sample oxidation under pressurised microwave conditions which reduced interference from chloride oxidation to a tolerable level. Lowered chloride interference meant that a mercury-free microwave method could be developed for sewage samples with chloride concentrations less than 250 mg 1“This seems timely in view of increasingly stringent controls on mercury usage in the laboratory.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 69-78 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 1995 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- COD
- mercury
- microwave
- sewage