Construction of Microbial-based Biosensor to Measure BOD of Industrial Wastewaters

In this study a cell-based biosensor for measurement of BOD was designed and developed. Activated sludge collected from wastewater treatment plant of Shahinshahr was used as biological receptor and a Clark cell was used as transducer. According to the results obtained from the sensor calibration، a linear relationship between the current changes and glucose-glutamic acid (GAA) standard concentrations up to 50 mg/L was observed. The BOD values of different industrial wastewaters، inlet and outlet of treatment plant of Ardineh Company (Isfahan)، and also inlet and outlet of domestic wastewater treatment plant of Shahinshahr، and outlet of treatment plant of Pegah Company (Isfahan) were measured using this biosensor. Comparison of the results of this biosensor and the results of the standard BOD test (BOD5) showed that the mean percentage error measured by the sensor was +29. 6%. The results concerning the stability of the designed biosensor showed a stability time of 3 days for the response of biosensor.