Correlation of Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) Using Regression Analysis

• Main Author: Narteh, Alexander Tetteh
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2015
• Subjects: Regression analysis; Biochemical Oxygen Demand; Chemical Oxygen Demand; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Excitation-Emission-Matrices; Tryptophan-like materials; Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5567; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6566&context=etd

This research uses Regression analysis of fluorescence spectroscopy results to correlate with Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5). Fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to samples taken from seven sample sites in the Provo and Orem waste water treatment plants found in Utah County. A total of 161 samples were collected for this research. 23 samples each were taken from four sites in the Provo waste water treatment plant namely Provo head works, aeration basin, primary filter settlement basin and the Provo effluent basin. The Orem head works, the clarifier and the Orem effluent basin were the three sample sites in the Orem waste water treatment plant where 23 samples each were collected to carry out the analysis. The fluorescent characteristics of the samples were determined using fluorescence spectrometry. These intensities were correlated with standard five day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) values which were used as a measure of the amount of biodegradable organic material present. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) data were also taken from these treatment plants for correlation purposes. Three different correlation analyses were made which were the correlation of fluorescence spectroscopy excitation-emission matrix (EEM) against (1) individual sites BOD and COD values (2) Provo only and Orem only BOD and COD values (3) combined Provo and Orem BOD and COD values. The correlation of Individual site EEMs against BOD and COD values produced the best results. There was a higher correlation of EEM with BOD data than COD data. The R-squared for the combined Provo and Orem BOD data was 0.756 and that for COD was 0.729. Very high R-squared was obtained for Provo Influent data and Orem Influent data which were 0.955 and 0.946 respectively. This method can be used by wastewater stakeholders in deriving quick results in determining potential pollution events within a shorter time frame. This research demonstrates that there is a correlation between EEM and BOD/COD.