Automated BOD Analyzer

MANTECH Analyzers utilize peristaltic pumps for rinsing that can pull DI water either from a static reservoir or container located near the analyzer, or from a pressurized line connected directly to the rinse pump inlet.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If drawing DI water from a pressurized line, it is important that the pressure in the line does not exceed 20 psi. A pressure regulator valve can be installed between the line hookup and the rinse pump to reduce pressure below this limit.

Typically, dilution water is about 130-135 uS/cm. If using seeded dilution water, expect around 100 uS/cm.

Note: The conductivity threshold of MANTECH’s level sensor is 50 uS/cm. Dilution water made must have a conductivity value greater than 50 uS/cm. Deionized water will not trigger the level sensor.

See below for hub specifications:

Note: All hubs must be directly connected to power for all system installations. MANTECH does not recommend hubs acquiring power solely from the USB connection of the computer.

Generally speaking, dissolved oxygen readings are dependent on atmospheric pressure. This is because the density of water changes with pressure, and this in turn affects the mg/L of dissolved oxygen. Here is a resource describing the “why” behind this. It is also dependent on temperature for similar reasons.

The YSI meter does compensate for changes in atmospheric pressure. Here is a document explaining this. The document also provides advice for troubleshooting when challenges are occurring in BOD testing. One important aspect is to make sure you are calibrating the probe before each day of testing.

Available as an optional add-on, MANTECH offers a separate fixed rack located in front of the rinse station for placing calibration solution, storage solution(s), and QC checks instead of limiting the sample rack capacity. Capacities range based on autosampler and tube/cup size.

MT Series QC Rack Options

BOD QC Rack Options

Note: All BOD systems with 12 position racks for AM402, AM403, AM404 and AM405 models include a QC rack.

First, confirm the correct COM port is selected. If this does not work, you will need to the reset the meter’s firmware. For step-by-step instructions, view PDF here.

Yes! Follow our short tutorial on resetting your MiniHub to factory settings if it does not connect to the IP address of 192.168.1.10

Follow our updated technical bulletin here. 

The measurements listed below are based on standard MT-Series systems. Measurements and pictures include the MANTECH System Organizer (MSO), where applicable. System controllers and computer monitors are not included in the dimensions described below.

AM400 Only Configuration (No MSO):

 Example MANTECH system with AM400 Only Configuration

Tall Side MSO Configuration (Recommended Configuration):

 Example MANTECH system with tall side MSO

Short Side MSO Configuration:

Example MANTECH system with short side MSO

AM400 Series BOD Systems (No MSO):

Example MANTECH BOD system with no MSO (Note: modules are to be placed on sampler bed or next to the sampler)

Yes, we do offer barcoding options. Barcoded labels will help you quickly identify results. Barcoded options are available and additional hardware is required.

BOD Pro™ Software detects the optimal time to turn on the stirrer while taking DO readings. This feature improves operational efforts for analysts and streamlining your runs.

MANTECH offers options for on-site or remote assistance. With the customer’s permission, a MANTECH representative can remotely control operations, answers questions, resolve challenges and assist with any other requests. MANTECH offers on-site support with one of our Technical Representatives within 72 hours across Canada and the U.S. Our team of Technical Representatives will assist in installation, repairs, and preventative maintenance of your systems. Find your nearest Technical Representative here. For on-site services outside of Canada and the U.S., please contact your distributor here.

Following months of BETA testing, in early 2022, MANTECH has released new software called BOD Pro. BOD Pro is a lab automation software that is entailed to operate our automated and manual BOD systems with plenty of features that analysts desire.

BOD Pro has been designed to integrate YSI MultiLab DO meters. MANTECH offers single, dual or triple probe options to cut busy laboratory’s run times to a fraction of the time! BOD Pro supports YSI MultiLab 4010-W series including:

• YSI MultiLab 4010-1W
• YSI MultiLab 4010-2W
• YSI MultiLab 4010-3W

A manual data entry option allows customers can use alternative DO meters.

Note: BOD Pro Software does not support the YSI MultiLab 4010-1, 4010-2, and 4010-3 models.

Yes. BOD Pro™ Software is agnostic, and our CSV import/export functionality is easy-to-use and flexible with all LIMS systems.

BOD Pro software requires a computer with Windows 10/11 Pro OS with minimum 4GB RAM. View PDF for Minimum Computer Requirements here.

BOD Pro has been designed for MANTECH’s latest hardware releases. Learn more about our new hardware here.

Hardware trade-in offers are available for existing PC-BOD customers.

Shortcuts are customizable buttons that users can create from pre-saved templates generated on Run Configuration table. Shortcuts can have its own unique image and be organized by custom headers.

The 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) test requires that samples be incubated for a period of 5 days between the initial reading of dissolved oxygen, and the final reading. The environment the samples are incubated in must be strictly controlled at 20°C for the entirety of the 5 days, and the best option for establishing this environment is an incubator. There are a wide variety of incubators available in the market with different dimensions and volumes, accommodating more or less samples depending on a laboratory’s requirements.

MANTECH’s BOD Pro analyzer automates the preparation and analysis of sets of samples for this BOD5 test using a multi-position autosampler along with pumps and other components. MANTECH’s AM400 autosamplers all accommodate 12- position or 18-position racks which the operator places the sample bottles into, then starts the run. After the analysis is complete, the operator applies stoppers and overcaps to the bottles according to the Standard Methods, and the sample bottles are placed in the incubator. For the BOD Pro systems, it is greatly beneficial to keep the bottles in position on the racks and place the full racks in the incubator, to save time and effort for the operators.

The dimensions of an 18-position BOD rack with bottles, stoppers and overcaps applied are provided below:

L – 19in/49cm

W – 9in/23cm

H – 7.5in/19cm

The dimensions of a 12-position BOD rack with bottles, stoppers and overcaps applied are provided below:

L – 19in/49cm

W – 6in/15cm

H – 7.5in/19cm

When sourcing an incubator for your lab’s BOD analysis, you will want to consider the total number of bottles expected to be analyzed every week, as well as the number of racks those bottles will occupy. For example, if your lab analyzes 200 BOD bottles every week, this would correspond to 12 18-position racks, with the last rack only being partially filled but still taking up the space of a full rack in the incubator.

Some examples of recommended incubator models and their bottle capacities both including racks, and not including racks, are provided below:

The MANTECH IntelliPump is a variable speed intelligent pump that is controlled in speed and direction by the MANTECH Pro software. The pump is set at a specific speed (1-100) and either 1/4″ or 1/8″ diameter tubing is used to achieve desired flow rates for various applications. The pump can then be calibrated by measuring liquid dispensed over a set period of time, and entering the value into the Hardware Configuration window of the software.

Pumps are assigned a default estimated flow rate based on the speed setting and tubing size, and this flow rate is used unless the end user decides to run a pump calibration. The estimated flow rates for various speed and tubing settings are provided below:

To learn how to calculate Seed Correction and BOD, please refer to this document. In BOD Pro, two separate values for Seed Correction Factor are stored along with the Run; one is referred to as BODSeedCorrection, and the other CBODSeedCorrection. The way we calculated BODSeedCorrection in BOD Pro is as follows:

1. Dividing the depletion of each BOD Seed bottle by its own volume (the seed volume), the resulting quantity is referred to as DepletionPerMLSeed
2. and then we average the DepletionPerMLSeed over all the BOD Seed bottles.

CBOD Seed Correction was calculated by doing the same on CBOD Seed bottles. The software allows for only one Seed ID to be included in the Run. There can be any number of BOD or CBOD Seed bottles within that Seed ID group.

BOD indicates the amount of putrescible organic matter present in water. Therefore, a low BOD is an indicator of good quality water, while a high BOD indicates polluted water. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is consumed by bacteria when large amounts of organic matter from sewage or other discharges are present in the water.

BOD can also be defined as the amount of oxygen required by the micro-organisms in the stabilization of organic matter. The results are generally expressed as the amount of oxygen taken by one litre sample (diluted with aerated water) when incubated at 20 degree for five days. BOD of raw sewage is 300-600 mg/litre.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), also often referred to as biological oxygen demand, is a test performed to measure the potential of wastewater and other waters to deplete the oxygen level of receiving waters. In other words, the BOD test is performed to determine what effect dirty water, containing bacteria and organic materials, will have on animal and plant life when released into a stream or lake. Learn more here.

MANTECH systems utilize one of two dissolved oxygen probes from YSI for automated dissolved oxygen determination. The measuring ranges of both probes are listed below, along with a link to the complete specification sheets.

YSI FDO 4410 IDS Sensor

• Dissolved Oxygen Range: 0 to 20 mg/L
• Air Saturation Range: 0 to 200%
• Temperature Measurement Range: 0 to 50°C
• Technical Specifications

YSI ProOBOD Sensor

• Dissolved Oxygen Range: 0 to 50 mg/L
• Air Saturation Range: 0 to 500%
• Temperature Measurement Range: Ambient 10 to 40°C; Compensation -5 to 50°C
• Technical Specifications

There are several common methods to test wastewater and drinking water for organic pollutants, natural and chemical.  Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) compromise the three main methods of testing water samples.  BOD and COD methods differ from TOC because they measure the amount of oxygen that is depleted by organic species in water.  Moreover, TOC is a measure of all carbon (both organic and inorganic), rather than the oxygen that is reduced by these species.  As written by a TOC manufacturer, “TOC on its own sheds no light on the oxidizability of the measured carbon or the amount of oxygen needed for its biodegradation.”  Specific to COD, it measures the reactive fraction of the TOC.  This is also known as oxidizability in the European Union.

View the full article: Comparison of COD, BOD and TOC Methods for organics, which summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the COD, BOD and TOC methods, and compares them to the PeCOD method.

The YSI 4010 MultiLab IDS meter will store the records for the last 10 calibrations performed on the meter. The instructions for retrieving these calibrations can be found on Technical Bulletin 2021 – 010.

BOD indicates the amount of putrescible organic matter present in water. Therefore, a low BOD is an indicator of good quality water, while a high BOD indicates polluted water. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is consumed by bacteria when large amounts of organic matter from sewage or other discharges are present in the water.

BOD can also be defined as the amount of oxygen required by the micro-organisms in the stabilization of organic matter. The results are generally expressed as the amount of oxygen taken by one litre sample (diluted with aerated water) when incubated at 20 degree for five days. BOD of raw sewage is 300-600 mg/litre.

BMS have recorded average ratios of 2-3 mg/l COD to 1 mg/l BOD over its 30 years of business. Influent COD in normal domestic sewage is therefore generally 600 – 900 mg/l and it is then treated to at least 30 -100 mg/l before discharge to minimize pollution potential.

• If all samples fail the final DO rule, the software will report the value for the sample with the highest dilution (lowest sample volume) and display a greater than (>) symbol.
• If all samples in a set fail the depletion rule and the BOD of the bottle with the lowest dilution (highest sample volume) is greater than the minimum detection, the software will report the value for the sample with the lowest dilution (highest sample volume) and display a less than (<) symbol.
• A less than symbol (<) will appear when all samples in a set have a depletion of less than that specified in the BOD Method.  If the BOD of the bottle with the lowest dilution (highest sample volume) is less than the minimum detection for a given sample condition, the average will be displayed as follows:
  • Diluted samples with no seed added < 2 mg/L
  • Diluted samples with seed added < 1 mg/L
  • Undiluted samples with no seed added < 0.1 mg/L
  • Undiluted sampled with seed added < 0.0 mg/L

The length of time to measure initials and finals on a MANTECH AM300 series multi-rack system varies depending on the method of sample preparation, sampler size, and probe style. For an example of a typical MANTECH BOD system click here.  For an individualized estimate contact us at support@mantech-inc.com.

Automating the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) test can greatly increase the efficiency and production capacity of a laboratory. To automate this analysis, the following information is required:

• How many bottles on average do you set up for an initials batch?
  • For example, this accounts for all samples and all dilutions per sample, plus blanks, GGA’s, etc.
• How often do you set up Initials?
  • For example, many laboratories set up Initials on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday then Finals on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday since the laboratory is closed on weekends.
• What is the maximum number of bottles in your incubator at any one time?
• Do you analyze BOD, cBOD, or both?
• What is the source of most samples that you are analyzing
  • For example, municipal WW, industrial WW, surface water, etc.
• What percentage of samples do you know the approximate BOD of before analysis?
• Who are the clients or users of the BOD information?
  • For example, industrial pre-treatment, WWTP effluent compliance, WWTP engineers, etc.

To use the YSI 4010 MultiLab IDS meter with PC-BOD, the appropriate driver, computer settings, and software settings must be applied.  Download the Technical Bulletin for more details.

The YSI MultiLab IDS meter outputs a true barometric pressure reading of its location, which is dependent on elevation above sea level.

Local weather services typically use a corrected barometric pressure reading, which corrects the reading to sea level.

To approximate the true barometric pressure reading from a corrected barometric pressure reading, use the following equation:

True barometric pressure [mmHg] = Corrected barometric pressure [mmHg] – (0.025 * local altitude [feet] )

The internal barometer on the YSI MultiLab IDS meter is calibrated upon manufacturing and is designed to last the lifespan of the barometer sensor. The sensor is very stable and can last many years. Standard Methods does not specify a requirement for an adjustable barometer for dissolved oxygen measurements or biological oxygen demand testing.

Unless otherwise specified in company or site-specific procedures, specifications, and regulations, a water vapor-air saturated calibration should be sufficient for probe calibration.  For full calibration procedures, please refer to the following pdf.

Follow the step-by-step instructions in the pdf.

Follow the step-by-step instructions in the pdf.

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is a way to assess the amount of oxygen required for aerobic microorganisms to decompose the organic material in a sample of water over a specific time frame. It is the oxygen uptake demand of a source of water. Carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD) is the same method as BOD, but the nitrifying bacteria in the sample are inhibited. Nitrifying bacteria consume nitrogenous materials (compounds with reduced forms of nitrogen) and add to the oxygen demand of the wastewater. Nitrogenous materials are often seen as interference because the purpose of the BOD test is to measure carbonaceous material.