What improvements were made to the instrument to improve precision and accuracy?
The BODTrak II features faster, more consistent mixing than the old instrument. This results in an increase in the respiration rate and oxygen consumption of the microorganisms, creating higher, more consistent, and more accurate BOD values. The BODTrak II also has improved temperature control. The instrument is more able to resist a change in temperature caused by heat produced by the stirring mechanism. If sample temperatures climb past 20 C, pressure increases in the bottle headspace. This increase in pressure results in a decrease in BOD. The improved temperature control of the new instrument prevents these falsely low results. Along with design improvements, the BODTrak II also features expanded and improved procedures. The BODTrak II “Hach Standard Method Procedure” is aligned with Standard Method 5210 D, Respirometric Method, which will result in higher and more accurate BOD values than the previous BODTrak.
