Microbial BOD sensors for wastewater analysis

The field of biosensors for measuring biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is reviewed. Particularly, BOD sensors constructed on the biofilm configuration are discussed regarding performance characteristics like linearity, response time, precision, agreement between BOD values obtained from the biosensors and the conventional 5-days test, as well as toxic resistance to various compounds and operational stability. The techniques for improving the agreement between the sensor BOD and BOD5 are described. Information provided also includes BOD biosensors based on respirometers and other measuring principles, the commercial BOD instruments, as well as the current limitations of BOD biosensor development. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.