Editing Biochemical oxygen demand (section)

=== Real-time BOD monitoring ===
Until recently, real-time monitoring of BOD was unattainable owing to its complex nature. Recent research by a leading UK university has discovered the link between multiple water quality parameters including electrical conductivity, turbidity, TLF and CDOM.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Khamis|first1=K.|last2=Bradley|first2=C.|last3=Hannah|first3=D. M.|date=2018|title=Understanding dissolved organic matter dynamics in urban catchments: insights from in situ fluorescence sensor technology|journal=Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water|volume=5|issue=1|pages=e1259|doi=10.1002/wat2.1259|issn=2049-1948|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018WIRWa...5E1259K }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Khamis|first1=K.|last2=R. Sorensen|first2=J. P.|last3=Bradley|first3=C.|last4=M. Hannah|first4=D.|last5=J. Lapworth|first5=D.|last6=Stevens|first6=R.|date=2015|title=In situ tryptophan-like fluorometers: assessing turbidity and temperature effects for freshwater applications|journal=Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts|volume=17|issue=4|pages=740–752|doi=10.1039/C5EM00030K|pmid=25756677|doi-access=free}}</ref> These parameters are all capable of being monitored in real-time through a combination of traditional methods (electrical conductivity via electrodes) and newer methods such as fluorescence. The monitoring of tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) has been successfully utilised as a proxy for biological activity and enumeration, particularly with a focus on ''Escherichia coli'' (E. Coli).<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Reynolds|first1=D. M.|last2=Ahmad|first2=S. R.|date=1997-08-01|title=Rapid and direct determination of wastewater BOD values using a fluorescence technique|journal=Water Research|volume=31|issue=8|pages=2012–2018|doi=10.1016/S0043-1354(97)00015-8|bibcode=1997WatRe..31.2012R |issn=0043-1354}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Okache|first1=J.|last2=Haggett|first2=B.|last3=Maytum|first3=R.|last4=Mead|first4=A.|last5=Rawson|first5=D.|last6=Ajmal|first6=T.|title=2015 IEEE Sensors |chapter=Sensing fresh water contamination using fluorescence methods |date=November 2015|pages=1–4|doi=10.1109/ICSENS.2015.7370462|isbn=978-1-4799-8203-5|s2cid=22531690}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fox|first1=B. G.|last2=Thorn|first2=R. M. S.|last3=Anesio|first3=A. M.|last4=Reynolds|first4=D. M.|date=2017-11-15|title=The in situ bacterial production of fluorescent organic matter; an investigation at a species level|journal=Water Research|volume=125|pages=350–359|doi=10.1016/j.watres.2017.08.040|pmid=28881211|bibcode=2017WatRe.125..350F |issn=0043-1354|doi-access=free|hdl=1983/a6b8b5fc-6ced-4901-9bb8-75ab3c05dd02|hdl-access=free}}</ref> TLF based monitoring is applicable across a wide range of environments, including but by no means limited to sewage treatment works and freshwaters. Therefore, there has been a significant movement towards combined sensor systems that can monitor parameters and use them, in real-time, to provide a reading of BOD that is of laboratory quality.