What is the full form of NBOD?

NBOD stands for Nitrogenous Biochemical Oxygen Demand, the oxygen used to oxidise nitrogen compounds.

A neutral reading misreads the N, which denotes nitrogenous, not neutral.

A natural reading likewise mistakes the meaning of the leading N.

A normalised reading is not the accepted expansion either.

NBOD arises as bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrate.

It is distinguished from carbonaceous demand, which oxidises organic carbon.