Wastewater Treatment

Water quality is questionable when looking at the emerging pollutants that accumulate day after day. In terms of wastewater treatments to eliminate organic compounds, biological treatments are the most used techniques, especially the Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) process. Unfortunately, several of these compounds, such as petroleum and industrial wastes, some pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and other substances are refractory to such treatments.

New and improved biotechnological advances have emerged to resolve recalcitrant problems. Bio augmentation of activated sludge, via the addition of microorganisms that are able to produce versatile enzymes and bio surfactants to enhance biodegradability of organic pollutants, is gradually being adopted as a solution for the recalcitrance of Bio-Refractory Organic Compounds.

Microorganisms are the labor workers of any biological wastewater system. By enhancing the microbial community, the overall wastewater system can operate more efficiently. The purpose of bio-augmentation is to supplement the existing microbial community in order to improve its performance.

By adopting a bio-augmentation program, the core process of a wastewater facility can be enhanced. While other technologies, chemicals or consumables, for example can increase effluent quality, these technologies are expensive and hard to handle and cover up underlying problems with the microbial community. Bio-augmentation offers effective treatment without the capital investment associated with plant expansion and equipment solutions.