Industrial wastewater treatment through bioaugmentation

Abstract

Bioaugmentation of activated sludge processes through the addition of microorganisms is employed with the aim of enhancing treatment, in particular the removal of priority pollutants. With industrial wastewaters, studies have covered target pollutants including ammonia and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): compounds that are regulated around the globe. However, bioaugmentation is a technique that has been associated with doubt in regard to its ability to benefit treatment processes. Failure of bioaugmentation has been reported to be associated with numerous factors that include the growth rate being lower than the rate of washout, insufficient inoculum size and substrate availability. Limitations of bioaugmentation can be overcome through techniques that include increased inocula dosing, pre-acclimatisation of inocula in side-stream reactors, addition of nutrients and surfactants and application of sufficient acclimatisation periods. Surveys of the literature show that a key area for further research should be towards acquiring a better understanding of the degradation pathways where bioaugmentation is applied. There also remains a need to undertake bioaugmentation efficacy studies at full scale with test and control streams. Further reporting on the economic viability of the technique is also necessary.

A bioaugmentation agent allowing the advanced treatment of refractory refinery wastewater in a biological aerated filter and analysis of its microbial community

“…This approach increases the acclimated biomass by adding supplementary microorganisms to the natural biosystems, which can enhance the response of the microbial communities to specific environments or toxic pollutants. A series of studies using bioaugmentation to improve degradation of highly toxic and recalcitrant wastewater showed that bioaugmentation can effectively increase the steady‐state removal rate, reduce the shock loading impact of toxic compounds and decrease the time required for the degradation process . Many approaches for bioaugmentation in secondary biochemical treatment have been developed, but few studies have reported their application in a BAF.…”

“…A series of studies using bioaugmentation to improve degradation of highly toxic and recalcitrant wastewater showed that bioaugmentation can effectively increase the steady-state removal rate, reduce the shock loading impact of toxic compounds and decrease the time required for the degradation process. [28][29][30] Many approaches for bioaugmentation in secondary biochemical treatment have been developed, but few studies have reported their application in a BAF.…”

Microbiological and Physicochemical Characterization of Hospital Effluents before and after Treatment with Two Types of Sawdust

“…Physicochemical and biological treatments are among the most widely used methods [21]. us, they have been the subject of several research projects [22][23][24].…”

Bioaugmentation effect of Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas putida on kinetics of activated sludge process in treating pharmaceutical industrial wastewater

“…Therefore, establishing wastewater treatment which is economically acceptable and has a low ecological footprint is highly important. For this reason, biological processes are being applied in treatment of a wide range of industrial wastewater; activated sludge has been identified as the best available technique for achieving required emission limit values . Industrial wastewater contains a broad spectrum of different compounds that can be degradation‐resistant and stay unchanged in wastewaters treated with the activated sludge process.…”