Bioaugmentation has many applications as a bioremediation technique. It is usually performed by bacteria but microalgal consortia also have great potential for bioremediation. This study evaluated the ability of a microbial consortium with predominance of microalgae (MCPM) to decontaminate the water of the Mallorquı ´n tropical swamp. The Mallorquı ´n Swamp is a natural water reservoir, essential for the ecological and hydric balance of the region, as well as for the fishermen, but has received sewage for more than 20 years. Microalgae for bioremediation purposes were isolated from the swamp, selected, cultured in bioreactors, and poured back into the Mallorquı ´n waters. After bioaugmentation, there was a significant reduction in the BOD 5 (98%), nitrates (58%), enterococci (92%), and total coliforms (100%). Notably, despite the MCPM bioaugmentation, the original richness and abundance of phytoplankton in the Mallorquı ´n swamp was not disrupted. These results confirm the benefits of phycoremediation as an effective tool for on-site bioremediation of natural water bodies and show an effective phycoremediation at a large scale without altering the autochthonous microalgae community. This constitutes the first report of a successful MCPM intervention performed at this scale in a natural swamp in Colombia.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.