Bioaugmentation

Bioaugmentation is the application of specifically selected bacteria (microbes) into a wastewater treatment system to enhance the system performance in some way. Bioaugmentation has many applications in all types of biological wastewater treatment systems, including once-through lagoons, activated sludge plants, sequencing batch reactors (SBR's) and rotating biological contactors (RBC's).

Very few chemicals that are treated in a waste treatment plant are really "toxic". It is usually a matter of time or numbers.  The bacteria present in a waste plant many times do not have enough time in your system when a high BOD loading or shock comes through or there are not enough numbers to sufficiently reduce the BOD before the stream hits the final effluent and violations occur. So, some companies created biological additives to increase the numbers and give the system a boost.

If you have an activated sludge plant, many times minor process changes coupled with close monitor and control of the biomass can help quicken upset recovery or just increase process efficiency. Not all plants need biological additives. Some just need to improve the "critical 5" parameters.

But some plants have constantly changing influents.  No matter how great a control they have, their biomass is in constant flux.  Sometimes adding a biological product or micronutrients can help stabilize and increase the efficiency of the biomass.

Many times, when a plant has a system that is old or under designed, and capital improvements would be too costly, optimization of the current system plus addition of biological products can short term help avoid costly capital improvements. Some plants discharge to a POTW. Addition of biological products in some cases can decrease the surcharges that are incurred. Sometimes in a once through lagoon, addition of bacteria can shorten recovery time, increase numbers during cold spells or high loading bursts.

Remediation

Bioremediation is a treatment process that uses naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade hazardous substances into less toxic or nontoxic substances. This can be done on soil, in water, lakes, rivers, ponds, in-Situ for contaminated sites.

Micronutrients

Research biologists have long known the importance of micronutrients, such as trace minerals, amino acids and vitamins, in the growth and reproduction of healthy cells.  Micronutrients are a blend of trace minerals, amino acids and vitamins designed to improve performance of biological systems at the bacterial or cell level. Much of the work on micronutrients was pioneered in the agricultural industries of poultry, cattle and pig farming.  This product is fed daily as a source of vitamins to the animals. 
 
Under controlled conditions, researchers have been able to develop formulations that provide an optimum micronutrient balance to ensure rapid and healthy growth for bacteria in a biological wastewater setting. These micronutrients enhance biological growth and providing the critical building blocks necessary to maintaining a healthy floc-forming population.   This product is a naturally occurring product, not a blend of chemicals.
 
Basically, it is the equivalent of "Bug Vitamins". The formulation consists of three types of micronutrients: trace minerals, amino acids and vitamins.  There are sixteen trace minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, cobalt, copper and zinc.  The formulation also includes twenty amino acids, such as lysine, and thirteen vitamins, including folic acid.
 
Micronutrients are metallic cations or anions such as: Ag, B, Cr, Co, Cu, F, I, Mn, Mo, Se, Si, Sn, V, and Zn.  Although their composition is small in relative quantity, (less than 1% of total microbial weight), micronutrients are indispensable for life and form bio-molecules that have specific cellular functions.

MicroClear M100

Benefits

Key Benefits

• Increased BOD and TSS removal
• Reduction in polymer consumption
• Decreased environmental liabilities
• Increase in system reliability and efficiency
• Increased Sludge Reduction/Reduced solids handling costs

Products

• Activated Sludge systems
• Ammonia cultures for nitrification
• Bioblocks  for lift stations and hard to reach spots
• Collection System-Sewer and Drain Cultures
• Micronutrients
• Grease Control & Lift station Maintenance
• Lagoons
• Lake, pond and river remediation
• Additional Products and formulations

**Bioaugmentation Programs include technical support, computer based training and long term programs include occasional complimentary Wastewater Biomass Analyses of your system.

 

List of Bioaugmentation products

 

Surveys show that  customers prefer the ease of throwing in a pre-measured water soluble pouch to scooping, handling and cleaning up after handling bacterial products.  Water soluble pouches are made of a specialty film that when placed in water, will dissolve away releasing the product contained within. The film will not dissolve in oil or with oil based fragrances, colorant, etc. Using different types of  film and various thickness, the rates at which the pouches dissolved can be controlled creating a longer lasting effect.

 

Bioaugmentation Applications

Papermill, Gun Powder plant, Cookie factory, Vegetable processing plant, Textile

Food and Beverage- Dairy Products, Wineries, Orange Juice factory,

Ornamental Pond for algae control, Nursing home lift stations and kitchen drains

Steel Mill, Animal Feed lot, Palm Oil

Municipal wastewater treatment plants, Grease, Filaments, Sludge reduction

Municipal Lift Stations

Barbecue Restaurant,

Nitrification recovery

Industrial- Food, Paper, Chemical, Refinery, Animal Feed lots, etc.
Landfills

 Agriculture
Hospital and Hotel,  Marine Environmental
Home septic,  Salt water Environments
Ponds,golf courses and ornamentals

Fish and Shrimp Farming

Liquid biological products are available where ease of application is required.
Hanging Blocks are also available.

 

How do I evaluate  biological products from one supplier to another?
Products for use in Wastewater Application for Bioengineering and Bioaugmentation
 

Links to Additional Troubleshooting Pages

For More information on Products:

Biological Products, Descriptions,  Usage and Applications

Case Histories

Biological Products for use in Wastewater Applications for Bioengineering and Bioaugmentation

Biological Wastewater Treatment Products

 

How are your bugs doing?
Filamentous Identification Training class
Filamentous Identification The Easy Way- Training Program CD
Wastewater Biomass Analyses Brochure
The Most Comprehensive Filamentous Bacteria Training Program you will find
Sample Case History
More information
Additional training Materials