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The biodegradable content of organics in aqueous solution can be assessed in two ways: by measuring the change in organic content effected by bacterial metabolism; or by measuring the consumption of oxygen by bacteria in effecting the removal of organics. In addition to oxygen, two possible parameters for pollution measurement are thermodynamic energy change and total carbon change. The validity of applying thermodynamic concepts to biological systems is questioned. Total carbon changes during the process of biological oxidation are considered to offer an excellent potential as a measure of biodegradable organic content. The use of carbon as a parameter in the context of the two analytical procedures derived at Rice University affords a flexibility in selection of technique based on the required precision of results. (Key words: Pollution measurement; oxygen demand; bacterial synthesis.)

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