Continuous RBCOD measurement

A self-contained portable unit for measuring the readily biodegradable chemical oxygen demand (RBCOD) in a real time waste water system or feed without adding sludge or biomass, said self-contained portable unit comprising:

• bio-reactor means not containing sludge or biomass for receiving a portion of a real-time waste water stream or feed;
• means for providing the portion to the bio-reactor means at a controlled rate to ensure a hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the bio-reactor means sufficient for complete oxidation of readily biodegradable compounds in the portion;
• air injection means, for periodically passing air through the portion in said bio-reactor means;
• measuring means for measuring a change in the dissolved oxygen content over a measured time interval of the portion in said bio-reactor means to determine oxygen consumption values of the portion in said bio-reactor means during periods when air is not passed through the portion in the bio-reactor means;
• data processing means in said bio-reactor means for calculating the readily bio-degradable chemical oxygen demand (RBCOD) for each of the measured oxygen consumption values by multiplying each measured oxygen consumption value by an apparatus constant and for producing electrical output signals representative of the calculated RBCOD;
• and
• a housing containing said bio-reactor means, said air injection means, said measuring means, and said data processing means.