Overview - ISO 10708:1997 (Water quality, BOD two‑phase closed bottle test)
ISO 10708:1997 specifies a standardized laboratory method to evaluate the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds-particularly poorly water‑soluble substances-by measuring biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in a two‑phase closed bottle test. The method follows oxygen uptake by aerobic microorganisms in an aqueous medium (test compound as sole carbon source) over up to 28 days and expresses biodegradability as oxygen uptake relative to the theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD) or chemical oxygen demand (COD).
Safety: activated sludge/sewage may contain pathogenic organisms; handle inocula and unknown/toxic compounds with appropriate precautions.
Key topics and technical requirements
Practical applications and users
- Environmental laboratories performing biodegradability screening of industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals.
- Regulatory testing and environmental risk assessment where demonstrating ultimate biodegradation or establishing BOD/COD relationships is required.
- Chemical manufacturers, contract testing labs, water quality consultancies, and regulators who need standardized, comparable aerobic biodegradability data for poorly soluble compounds.
Related standards
- ISO 10634:1995 - Preparation/treatment of poorly water‑soluble compounds for biodegradability tests
- ISO 9408, ISO 9439 - Alternative respirometric and CO2‑evolution tests (referenced)
- ISO 8192 - Methods for assessing inhibitory effects on bacteria
- ISO 11923 - Determination of suspended solids
Keywords: ISO 10708, biodegradability, biochemical oxygen demand, BOD, two‑phase closed bottle test, ThOD, COD, water quality, poorly water‑soluble compounds, aerobic biodegradation.
