NITROGENOUS BOD

(Water Quality) The amount of molecular oxygen required for the microbial oxidation of ammonia and nitrite contaminants in a specified volume of wastewater. This type of oxygen demand can complicate the interpretation of data obtained from the determination of the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of treated sewage, although a chemical can be added to the BOD test to prevent ammonia oxidations. Ammonia and nitrite are oxidized by Chemoautotrophic Bacteria.