Practical Reasons for Encouraging More Widespread Use of Bioaugmentation

Practical Reasons for Encouraging More Widespread Use of Bioaugmentation

Many people benefit every day from the use of microorganisms to perform helpful functions. For instance, the age-old process of fermentation is responsible for the production of many foods and consumer goods like yogurt, cheese, sausage, and coffee. In the 19^th century, the now common practice of wastewater biodegradation by encouraging bacterial growth and activity was starting to be developed. ¹ In the last century, the development and production of antibiotics has become well-established. Currently, the implementation of bioaugmentation for positive environmental benefits is on the rise, but humans and the environment stand to benefit from more widespread adoption of this practical and natural treatment.

There is an unlimited scope for additional research on how microorganisms can be advantageously used to clean up oil spills, improve crop and livestock health, increase efficiency of wastewater treatment, and much more. However, research has already progressed to the point of commercial viability in all these areas, as evidenced by the microbial and nutrient packages on the market. What remains to be done is to encourage more industries to make use of the viable options already available. Implementing microorganisms in the many industries and fields where they have already been successfully commercialized can not only benefit users and the environment—it can also play an important role in increasing the acceptance and driving further R&D of these natural miniature powerhouses for environmental cleanup, industrial cleaning, and agricultural enhancement.

How Microorganism Metabolism Offers a Sustainable Advantage to Industry and the Environment

Microorganisms produce enzymes—biocatalysts that speed up biological reactions and help break down contaminants. These are used as food, which allows the microorganisms to grow, reproduce, and develop into a colony that digests unwanted pollutants from wastewater, industrial spills, or agricultural waste, among others. Such functionality allows microorganisms to accelerate the cleanup of the environment. When food (i.e., contaminants) is plentiful, the microorganisms multiply to keep pace with the new food supply. As the contaminants decrease, the microorganism colony gets smaller as well. Most microorganisms also produce helpful substances, such as biosurfactants, that sequester contaminants into smaller particles that are easier for the enzymes to attack and degrade. Still other microorganisms perform beneficial actions that promote plant health and nutrient absorption by forming symbiotic relationships with plant roots. The action of microorganisms that are either added commercially (bioaugmentation) or are naturally occurring at a site can be further enhanced by the addition of macro- and micro-nutrients that stimulate microorganism growth and productivity (biostimulation). A key advantage of bioaugmentation is that these ecological benefits are achieved in environmentally sound (or friendly) ways, without the use of harsh chemicals. They have a positive effect on the environment and are extremely versatile.

Bioremediation/Cleanup of Hydrocarbon Spills

One recurring cleanup problem in today's world is that of oil leaks and spills on a small or large scale. Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, BP sponsored research to study the naturally occurring microbes in the area of the spill. As a result, researchers found that certain types of microorganisms flourished in the contaminated water. The findings supported the theory that these naturally occurring microorganisms would eventually degrade the oil. They also pointed to the possibility of being able to make use of the natural appetites of particular microorganisms in order to stimulate quicker cleanup of oil spills in the future. ²

While further research could lead to increasingly better cleanup processes, key microorganisms have already been identified and made commercially available to target the cleanup of oil spills on a small—if not large—scale in soil or water environments. For example, an ex situ bioremediation plan was satisfactorily adopted at a landfill project in Europe after a successful pilot project from 2015–2017. A special combination of microorganisms and natural and environmentally friendly biosurfactants was mixed with water and blended into the contaminated soil. The system was adopted for the decontamination of 3,000–5,000 tons of soil per year. ³

Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater treatment plants already rely on naturally occurring microorganisms to perform contaminant degradation. However, by adding microorganisms and important stimulants that may be lacking, the efficiency of the wastewater treatment can be increased. Contaminants can be broken down more quickly, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) values (key indicators of wastewater contaminant levels) can be significantly reduced. Bioaugmentation also helps reduce sludge in wastewater treatment lagoons. It can be performed at municipal wastewater treatment plants to counteract plant upsets or directly at industrial plants to help them meet allowable discharge limits.

One chemical manufacturing plant that implemented this practice was receiving surcharges from the local municipality because of excess COD levels in its discharge water. Through bioaugmentation, they were able to reduce COD and total suspended solids (TSS) to the required levels and reach the lowest level of these indicators since the building of the plant. ⁴

Restaurant and Hospitality Industry

Restaurants often encounter high amounts of waste fats, oils, and greases (FOG). Grease traps and drains can easily become overrun or clogged because of grease buildup, and selecting a biological treatment targeted for grease degradation can be a simple but important part of maintaining a healthy drain flow. A regular maintenance dose works to establish a healthy microorganism population inside the drains to keep the greasy contaminants in check.

Bioaugmentation was successfully implemented at a shopping mall in Russia to reduce all levels of FOG, BOD5, COD, and TSS. These levels exceeded the normal allowable discharge but dropped significantly after treatment began (Table 1). ⁵

Cleaning

Cleaning product formulators have already started making use of biological cleaning concentrates. These products offer a safer alternative to harsh chemicals yet have natural cleaning capabilities from microorganisms and free enzymes that break down contaminants. They can be formulated to target specific stains, such as those that might come from hydrocarbons spilled at gas stations, auto repair garages, or other industrial facilities. Cleaners that utilize bacteria with a special appetite for degrading gasoline, diesel, crude oil, and BTEX [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene] are well-suited to these applications. This type of cleaner was used to advantage at an industrial manufacturing facility where oil had penetrated into the concrete floor. A biological cleaner suited to hydrocarbons was used to remove a significant amount of the spill before the final epoxy floor coating was applied. ⁶

Agriculture/Aquaculture Industries

Microorganisms and bioaugmentation have a variety of uses in the agriculture/aquaculture industry. Microorganisms perform a variety of functions—including increasing nutrient availability and suppressing disease—that can go a long way toward enhancing the healthy growth of crops. For example, a farmer in Japan found that by performing a trial of specialized microorganisms and nutrient stimulants on his soybean field, he avoided the serious replant failure that he usually experienced. When the half-acre test field was compared with other soybean fields that were untreated, it was found that there was a better soil structure in the test zone with fewer weeds. Despite an excessive drought that withered many of the crops outside the test zone, the soybeans within the test zone fared well. ⁷

Bioaugmentation can also be used to control odor and accelerate degradation of manure piles, or it can be added to animal feed similarly to increasingly popular human probiotics, creating a healthy intestinal environment in livestock such as chicken, cattle, and pigs. For example, a farmer in Japan noticed ammonia reduction in cattle's manure after he started to use probiotic feed additives. ⁸ On the aquaculture side, feed additives can promote healthier fish and shrimp growth and reduce mortality while other specialized bacteria can be added to the water to promote cleaner pond environments by reducing algae, sludge, ammonia, toxins, and nutrient pollution.

The Future of Bioaugmentation

Additional research will undoubtedly find additional ways and improved methods to maximize benefits from microorganisms and bioaugmentation. Research is already on the horizon for how specialized bacteria can be isolated and used for the degradation of plastic waste. ⁹ For now, one of the basic needs is to increase the adoption of the broad range of bioaugmentation products that are already commercially available. This could reduce the use of common cleaning chemicals, minimize problems of contamination buildup, enhance the health of agricultural crops and livestock, and clean up lakes and ponds through natural means. The growing demand would promote greater availability and justify additional research. An increasing number of successes would expand the data pool, leading to a better understanding of how bioaugmentation works, and its effectiveness, benefit, and potential, all while making use of a natural technology.