Overestimated COD values for raw wastewaters extracted by vacuum sampling devices due to sedimentation effects

Abstract

Automatic vacuum sampling devices are frequently used to obtain representative samples of raw wastewaters. As a relatively high frequency of sampling is desired to cover the full range of load fluctuations and the volume of a composite sample is generally limited, the volume used from each sampling event is significantly less than that actually extracted by the sampler. On 5 different wastewater treatment plants the authors have found that the COD concentration in the sample volume used for analyses was significantly higher than that in the sample volume wasted by the vacuum sampler. It is hypothesized that the observed change in sample quality after the excess sample volume has been wasted is due to the sedimentation of solids in the sample chamber. This leads to a significant overestimation of the COD in subsequent analyses. Subsequent tests, where samples from vacuum samplers were compared with samples drawn by hand and by a scoop sampler respectively, support this hypothesis.