How is biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) different from chemical oxygen demand (COD)?

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Solution

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria while decomposing organic matter at a specific temperature.
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is the amount of oxygen required to oxidize organic and inorganic nutrients (NH₃, NO_3,etc.) present in water.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
It is a test to calculate the dissolved oxygen in the water. It is the process to calculate the dissolved oxygen required to oxidize chemicals in the water.
BOD is a biological oxidation process. COD is a chemical oxidation process.
It is performed by aerobic organisms. It is performed by chemical reagents.
The value of BOD is lower than the Chemical oxygen demand. The value of COD is always greater than Biochemical oxygen demand.
Bacteria perform the BOD process by decomposing organic matter. More molecules can be chemically oxidized by chemicals than bacteria.

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