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JoVE Science Education Environmental Science
Dissolved Oxygen in Surface Water
  • 00:00Overview
  • 01:14Principles of Measuring Dissolved Oxygen in Surface Water
  • 03:27Sample Collection and Fixing in the Field
  • 04:42Measuring Dissolved Oxygen in Surface Water Samples in the Laboratory
  • 06:04Results
  • 07:01Applications
  • 09:07Summary

표층수의 용존 산소

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Overview

출처: 마가렛 노동자와 킴벌리 프라이의 실험실 – 데폴 대학

용존 산소(DO) 측정은 표면수에 용해된 기체 산소의 양을 계산하며, 이는 인간 소비에 선호하는어종(예: 블루길 및 저음)을 포함한 강 생태계의 모든 산소 호흡 수명뿐만 아니라 시스템에서 생지질화학 물질의 재활용에 중요한 분해종을 포함한다.

호수, 강, 바다에 용해된 산소는 그 안에 사는 유기체와 생물에게 매우 중요합니다. 용존 산소의 양이 수역에서 정상 수준 이하로 떨어지면 수질이 손상되고 생물이 죽기 시작합니다. 부영양화라는 과정에서, 물의 몸은 저산소가 될 수 있으며, 더 이상 살아있는 유기체를 지원할 수 없으며 본질적으로 “데드 존”이 됩니다.

부영양화는 과도한 영양소가 조류 개체수가 조류 꽃에서 급속히 증가할 때 발생합니다. 조류 꽃은 물에 대한 산소의 두 가지 필수 입력을 차단하는 물의 표면에 조밀 한 매트를 형성 : 대기에서 가스 교환과 매트 아래 빛의 부족으로 인해 물에 광합성. 용존 산소 수치가 표면 아래로 떨어지면서 산소 호흡 유기체가 다량으로 죽어 유기물증가가 증가합니다. 과잉 유기물은 벤딕 존에서 산소 호흡 분해 인구의 증가를 일으키며, 이는 대사 분해 활동 중 나머지 용존 산소 수준을 더욱 고갈시킨다. 산소 수치가 이 낮게 되면, 이동식 산소 호흡종(예: 물고기)은 물 속에서 에어로빅 생활을 남기지 않고 사각지대를 생성합니다.

Azide-Winkler 적정 방법은 적정을 사용하여 샘플에서 알 수 없는 농도를 결정합니다. 구체적으로, 티오술파테 나트륨은 요오드를 적발하는 데 사용되며, 이는 샘플에서 용존 산소의 양과 관련이 있다.

Principles

Procedure

1. 샘플 용해 산소 측정 수심 장에서는 보정된 파이펫을 사용하여 샘플 물로 채워진 투명한 300mL BOD 병에 2mL 망간 황산염을 추가합니다. 샘플 표면 아래에 파이펫 팁을 삽입하고 망간 황산염을 조심스럽게 분배하여 시료에 산소를 도입하지 않도록주의하십시오. 이것은 견본이 “고정”될 때까지 거품을 만드는 것을 피하고 용존산소 농도로의 변경을 방지할 것입니다. 동일한 기술을 사…

Results

A dissolved oxygen level of 6 mg/L is sufficient for most aquatic species. Dissolved oxygen levels below 4 mg/L are stressful to most aquatic animals. Dissolved oxygen levels below 2 mg/L will not support aerobic aquatic life (Figure 5).

The maximum amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in water varies by temperature (Table 1).

DO measurements in mg/L are converted to % saturation using water temperature and the conversion chart below (Figure 6).

DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS (% SATURATION)
Excellent: 91 – 110
Good: 71 – 90
Fair: 51 – 70
Poor: < 50

Figure 5a
Figure 5. DO measurements are converted to % saturation using the water’s temperature. The water’s temperature on the top horizontal axis and the measured DO value on the bottom horizontal axis. Use a ruler to draw a line between the two values and record where the line meets the middle diagonal axis for % saturation.

Figure 5
Figure 6. A dissolved oxygen level of 6 mg/L is sufficient for most aquatic species. Dissolved oxygen levels below 4 mg/L are stressful to most aquatic animals. Dissolved oxygen levels below 2 mg/L will not support fish and below 1 mg/L will not support most species.

Temp. (°C) DO (mg/L) Temp. (°C) DO (mg/L) Temp.(°C) DO (mg/L) Temp.(°C) DO (mg/L)
0 14.60 11 11.01 22 8.72 33 7.16
1 14.19 12 10.76 23 8.56 34 7.16
2 13.81 13 10.52 24 8.40 35 6.93
3 13.44 14 10.29 25 8.24 36 6.82
4 13.09 15 10.07 26 8.09 37 6.71
5 12.75 16 9.85 27 7.95 38 6.61
6 12.43 17 9.65 28 7.81 39 6.51
7 12.12 18 9.45 29 7.67 40 6.41
8 11.83 19 9.26 30 7.54 41 6.41
9 11.55 20 9.07 31 7.41 42 6.22
10 11.27 21 8.90 32 7.28 43 6.13

Table 1. Maximum amounts of oxygen that can be dissolved in water by temperature.

Applications and Summary

Slow-moving rivers are particularly vulnerable to low DO levels, and in extreme cases, these DO levels can lead to hypoxic conditions, creating “dead zones” where aerobic life is no longer supported by a body of water (Figure 7). Once plants and animals die-off, the build-up of sediment that occurs can also raise the riverbed, allowing plants to colonize over the water and could lead to the loss of the river all together (Figure 8). Surface waters at higher altitudes are also more vulnerable to low DO levels, as atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude, and less oxygen gas is suspended in the water.

Low DO levels support life forms considered unappealing or unfit for human use, including leeches and aquatic worms (Oligochaeta).

Figure 6
Figure 7. Map of dissolved oxygen concentrations across the Louisiana shelf showing the dead zone region.

Figure 7
Figure 8.  Photograph of the Caspian Sea showing severe eutrophication in the north end.

Transcript

Dissolved oxygen is crucial for river and lake ecosystems to support aerobic life. The Azide-Winkler titration method allows quantification of the amount of dissolved oxygen in surface water samples.

Gaseous oxygen dissolved in surface water is required for the survival of the organisms living in it; decomposers critical to recycling of biogeochemical materials in the ecosystem, or fish species preferred for human consumption. As oxygen levels fall below normal in water systems, water quality is harmed and organisms begin to die.

The Azide-Winkler titration method is a standard test to determine the concentration of dissolved oxygen in a sample. Sodium thiosulfate is used to titrate iodine, which is stochiometrically related to the amount of dissolved oxygen in the sample.

This video will illustrate the principles behind dissolved oxygen quantification, the process of performing the Azide-Winker titration, and the interpretation of dissolved oxygen measures.

Eutrophication is the introduction of excess nutrients into an ecosystem. This causes algae populations to grow rapidly into dense mats, known as algal blooms. These mats can lead to hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, by blocking out gas exchange at the surface, and prevent photosynthesis by blocking sunlight. Oxygen breathing organisms begin to die, causing an increase in organic matter, which in turn causes an increase in oxygen dependent decomposers, depleting oxygen resources yet further. Finally, mobile oxygen-dependent organisms move away, leaving a dead zone with no aerobic life.

To test the level of dissolved oxygen in a water source, the Azide-Winkler method can be used to measure dissolved oxygen directly in the field, or samples can be fixed and taken to the laboratory for further analysis.

Manganese sulfate and potassium hydroxide are added to the sample, forming manganese hydroxide. This reduces the dissolved oxygen, forming a brown precipitate. Alkaline iodide-azide reagent is added to correct for the presence of nitrates found in wastewater samples that can interfere with the oxidation procedure.

Added sulfuric acid acidifies the solution and dissolves the precipitate. This new compound oxidizes the iodide from the alkaline iodine-azide reagent to iodine.

Next, a starch indicator is added that will turn blue in the presence of iodine. Thiosulfate, which turns iodine back into iodide, is used to titrate the iodine. When the titration is complete, the blue solution will turn colorless. The amount of dissolved oxygen in the sample is proportional to the amount of thiosulfate required to turn the solution from blue to colorless.

Now that we are familiar with the principles behind measuring dissolved oxygen in water samples, let’s take a look at how this is carried out in the field and the laboratory.

The experiment will begin at the collection site. First, collect the sample water in a clear 300-mL BOD bottle. Next, measure and record the temperature of water from the water source. Carefully add 2 mL manganous sulfate to the sample by inserting the pipette tip under the water surface and slowly dispense to avoid creating bubbles.

Using the same technique, add 2 mL alkaline iodine-azide reagent, and immediately insert the stopper, tilting the bottle slightly so no air is trapped in the bottle.

Carefully invert several times to mix the solution, taking care not to create air bubbles. A precipitate will form, causing a cloudy appearance. Let the precipitate in the solution settle, and then mix thoroughly by inverting the bottle several times before letting it settle again. Samples should be sealed using a small amount of deionized water squirted around the stopper, then wrapped in aluminum foil and secured with a rubber band. The sample is now fixed, and can be transported back to the laboratory.

Once the samples have been fixed, they are transported to the lab for further analysis. First, holding the pipette tip just above the sample surface, add 2 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid into the sample. Invert several times to dissolve the precipitate. Using a glass flask and calibrated pipette, titrate 200 mL of the pre-treated sample water with 0.025 N standardized sodium thiosulfate, swirling and mixing continuously until a pale straw color forms.

Once the solution is straw colored, add 2, 1-mL droplets of starch indicator solution and swirl to mix. The solution will turn blue. Continue the titration, adding one drop of sodium thiosulfate at a time and mixing slowly using a stir bar until the blue dissipates and the solution becomes colorless. Hold the sample against a white piece of paper to enhance visualization. Record the volume of thiosulfate added.

The concentration of dissolved oxygen is proportional to the volume of sodium thiosulfate added to the sample. Each milliliter added is equivalent to 1 mg/L, or parts per million, dissolved oxygen.

The maximum amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in water varies by water temperature. Dissolved oxygen measurements in mg/L are converted to percent saturation using water temperature and a conversion chart. Saturation of 91 to 110% dissolved oxygen is considered excellent; between 71 and 90% is good, 51-70% is fair, and below 50% is poor.

Dissolved oxygen levels of 6 mg/L are sufficient to support most aquatic species. Levels below 4 mg/L are stressful to the majority of aquatic animals, so biodiversity will be affected. Water containing less than 2 mg/L dissolved oxygen will not support aerobic aquatic life.

The ability to quantify the amount of dissolved oxygen in a water source also has alternative methods, and many relevant practical applications. Some of these are explored here.

Dissolved oxygen and temperature can also be measured using a handheld LabQuest monitor with dissolved oxygen and temperature probes. For dissolved oxygen, plug the probe into channel 1. Units should be in mg/L. Submerge the probe into the water sample, circulating the probe slowly through the sample to avoid consuming oxygen in a localized area. When the readings appear to stabilize, record the value.

Most fish require moderate to good levels of dissolved oxygen in their habitats to thrive and reproduce. For fish farms, which may occupy man-made or natural lakes or streams, being able to test dissolved oxygen levels can help farm managers to choose a good initial set-up site, or to keep track of the health of their pools or streams.

Monitoring dissolved oxygen can also be useful for habitat management and conservation. If a lake or river region contains protected or endangered flora or fauna, monitoring of dissolved oxygen levels can give an indication of the health of the ecosystem. If levels change rapidly, this could indicate danger for the protected species, and may indicate that a management intervention strategy should be implemented.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA, suggests a number of measures to correct dissolved oxygen levels in ecosystems. These include correct and minimal use of fertilizers, proper wastewater treatment, not discharging sewage from boats, and preserving adjoining rivers, streams, and wetlands. Reducing nitrogen oxides by minimizing electricity and automobile use and choosing more efficient boat engines can also help to maintain appropriate dissolved oxygen levels in water resources.

You’ve just watched JoVE’s introduction to measuring dissolved oxygen in surface waters. You should now understand the principles behind dissolved oxygen measurement, how to quantify dissolved oxygen in your own water samples, and how to interpret your findings and their implications for the environment. Thanks for watching!

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JoVE Science Education Database. JoVE Science Education. Dissolved Oxygen in Surface Water. JoVE, Cambridge, MA, (2023).

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