Biochemical oxidation of organic matter in Bay of Bengal waters off Madras-Visakhapatnam

Abstract

Water samples from 15 fixed stations in the coastal as well as offshore regions were analysed for total non-specific organic matter through biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) analysis. BOD values varied between stations depending on the nature and amount of organic matter decomposed by heterotrophic bacteria. The velocity rate (<i>K</i>) of destruction of organic matter and the ultimate BOD (<i>L_o</i>) of I stage were calculated using unimolecular equations. The computed rate constants help predicting biochemical oxidation process involved and assessing the degree of pollution and self-purification capacity of polluted waters. <i>K</i> and <i>L_o</i> values of the station studied are quite comparable to the <i>K</i> and <i>L_o</i> values of other oceans reported earlier.