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DO Dissolved Oxygen

The document discusses dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in aquatic environments. It states that DO is vital for aquatic life and there are natural fluctuations in DO levels based on factors like temperature, season, time of day, and biological oxygen demand (BOD) from organisms. The objective of the experiment described was to measure DO levels and BOD in a lake water sample. Methods detailed the use of a DO meter, probe calibration, and water sampling procedure. Results found DO levels of 7.77 mg/L, indicating suitable conditions for aquatic life. In conclusion, the results were consistent with expectations and DO levels met standards for supporting organisms.

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174 views

DO Dissolved Oxygen

The document discusses dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in aquatic environments. It states that DO is vital for aquatic life and there are natural fluctuations in DO levels based on factors like temperature, season, time of day, and biological oxygen demand (BOD) from organisms. The objective of the experiment described was to measure DO levels and BOD in a lake water sample. Methods detailed the use of a DO meter, probe calibration, and water sampling procedure. Results found DO levels of 7.77 mg/L, indicating suitable conditions for aquatic life. In conclusion, the results were consistent with expectations and DO levels met standards for supporting organisms.

Uploaded by

abood buriahi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

Project Overview

1.0 Introduction
1.1.0

Dissolved oxygen. Landau (1992), Nakova et al. (2009), Bahadori and Vuthaluru (2010) and
Andrews et al. (2011) state that a sufficient supply of dissolved oxygen (DO) is vital for life
in aquaculture and is a good indicator of water quality. There is 20-30 times less oxygen in
water than in the same volume of air and this makes for a demanding environment for aerobic
creatures to survive. Most aquatic animals need more than 1mg/l concentration of oxygen for
survival and 4-5mg/l to avoid stress. Girdler et al. (2010), mentions that the optimum DO
level should be above 8ppm and dangerous levels are below 6ppm in a course fishery
however, it contradicts that statement by stating that many culturists try to maintain a 5ppm.

1.1.1

Oxygen levels in water will decrease with increasing temperatures and at higher altitudes
(D’Autilia et al., 2004; Bahadori and Vuthaluru, 2010; Girdler et al., 2010 and Andrews et
al., 2011), likewise the opposite will increase the DO in a fishery. A 1% increase in
temperature will result in an 11% decrease in O2, Girdler et al. (2010). There are natural
fluctuations between the seasons with the summer (warmer) months will on average be lower
in DO levels than the rest of the year. It has been stated that DO levels will also change
through the day, with DO reaching its maximum during the late afternoon and will be at its
lowest around sunrise. DO should be recorded each day to aid in identifying possible periods
of hypoxia.
1.1.2

Aquatic plants and vegetation will use carbon dioxide (CO2) which is a by-product from
respiration of fish and aquatic plants to produce oxygen, (Landau, 1992; Parker, 2002;
Girdler et al., 2010 and Andrews et al., 2011), this is known as photosynthesis. However, if
there are insufficient plants to support the aquatic system, this will result in low DO levels,
(Parker, 2002 and Andrews et al., 2011), as the fish and organisms will consume more O2
than the plants can produce. The amount of oxygen required to support fish, organisms and
bacteria is called Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), (Landau, 1992; Misraa, 2006 and
Girdler et al., 2010). Oxygen consumed during algal respiration in some cases may account
for 50% of the total BOD, Girdler et al. (2010). It is also worth mentioning that stressed fish
will also use more oxygen, (Landau, 1992; Parker, 2002 and Girdler et al., 2010). Sensitivity
of low concentrations of DO differs between species and between the stages of life,
(Alabaster and Lloyd, 1980). Fig 1 below shows the tolerances of DO in all stages of growth
for fish in general.

Figure 1: DO tolerances for fish, Water research (2011).

1.2.0 Objective
The aim of this experiment was to investigate the level of dissolved oxygen (DO) which has
a variety of techniques and equipment but we used DO meter in a sample of water from the
lake source between F2 and library and to establish the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

2.0 Methods and materials


Meter and Probe

A dissolved oxygen meter is an electronic device that converts


signals from a probe that is placed in the water into units of DO in
milligrams per liter. Most meters and probes also measure
temperature. The probe is filled with a salt solution and has a
selectively permeable membrane that allows DO to pass from the
stream water into the salt solution. The DO that has diffused into the
salt solution changes the electric potential of the salt solution and this
change is sent by electric cable to the meter, which converts the
signal to milligrams per liter on a scale that the volunteer can read.

2.1 Dissolved Oxygen (DO meter)

1. Follow exactly the calibration procedure described in the manufacturer’s operating


instructions. Generally, electrodes are calibrated by reading against air or against a sample of
known dissolved oxygen content. This “known” sample could be one for which dissolved
oxygen concentration has been determined by the Winkler method or one that has been
saturated with oxygen by bubbling air through it. The zero end of a calibration curve can be
determined by reading against a sample containing no dissolved oxygen, prepared by adding
excess sodium sulphite, Na2SO3, and a trace of cobalt chloride, CoCl2, to the sample.

2. Rinse the electrode in a portion of the sample which is to be analysed for dissolved oxygen.
Figure 2.1: Rinse the electrode with distilled water
3. Immerse the electrode in the water, ensuring a continuous flow of water past the membrane
to obtain a steady response on the meter

Figure 2.2 electrode in the sample

4. Record the meter reading and the temperature, and the make and model of the meter

Figure 2.3: Result from DO meter


5. Switch the meter off and pack it and the electrode in the carrying case for transport
Figure 2. 4: DO meter
4.0 DISCUSSION

Oxygen is measured in its dissolved form as dissolved oxygen (DO). If more oxygen is
consumed than is produced, dissolved oxygen levels decline and some sensitive animals may
move away, weaken, or die.

DO levels fluctuate seasonally and over a 24-hour period. They vary with water temperature
and altitude. Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water and water holds less oxygen at
higher altitudes. Thermal discharges, such as water used to cool machinery in a
manufacturing plant or a power plant, raise the temperature of water and lower its oxygen
content. Aquatic animals are most vulnerable to lowered DO levels in the early morning on
hot summer days when stream flows are low, water temperatures are high, and aquatic plants
have not been producing oxygen since sunset.

The dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen that is dissolve in water. The analysis
used to measure the amount of gaseous oxygen (O 2) dissolved in liquid solution. Oxygen
gaseous gets into water by diffusing from the surrounding air, by aeration and as a waste
product of photosynthesis. Our DO value that we get from after the experiment is 7.77 which
can be calculated in percentage as 98.6% SIDO. As we know, the total dissolved gas
concentrations in water must more than 7.0 can be considered OK, so our water sample is
suitable for living organism.

5.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, an increase in temperature and an increase in light increase the amount of


dissolved oxygen within a water sample. Seeing that the results were consistent through
multiple experiments, it is highly likely that if the experiment was repeated that similar or the
same results would occur.

The dissolve oxygen in the water is more than 7, which is OK. The dissolve oxygen in the
water is suitable for the living organism to live in the water.
6.0 Bibliography

Nakova, E, Linnebank, F.E, Bredeweg, B, Salles, P. and Uzunov, Y. (2009). The river Mesta
case study: A qualitative model of dissolved oxygen in aquatic ecosystems, Ecological
Informatics. 4: 339–357
Landau, M. (1992). Introduction to Aquaculture. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Bahadori, A. and Vuthaluru, H,B. (2010). Simple Arrhenius-type function accurately predicts
dissolved oxygen saturation concentrations in aquatic systems. Process Safety and
Environmental Protection. 8: 335–340.
Girdler, A, Welby, I and Welcomme, R. (2010). Fisheries Management, A manual for
stillwater course fisheries. Part ii Management of still water fisheries, p200. Blackwell
publishing, Chichester, Sussex.
Parker, R. (2002). Aquaculture Science (2nd ed.), Health of aquatic animals. New York:
Delmar.
Alabaster, J.S and Lloyd, R (1980) Water Quality Criteria for Freshwater Fish.
LondonBoston. Butterworth.
DEFRA, (2007). Dissolved oxygen and Biochemical Oxygen demand statistics, Retrieved on
Mar 04, 2012.

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