FAQ’s about Bioaugmentation of Wastewater Frequently asked questions about the bioaugmentation of wastewater. Q. What is bioaugmentation? A. Bioaugmentation is simply the addition of specifically selected microorganisms (mainly bacteria) to wastewater. When properly implemented bioaugmentation of wastewater will improve the performance of the plant. Q. I’ve heard about using “bugs” and bioremediation but isn’t that just snake oil? A. In the past, there were a lot of snake oil salesman peddling magic bacteria that could do wonderful things at treatment plant. Bioaugmentation companies had a reputation worse than that of a sleezy lawyer. The myth continue because treatment plant operators normally have a background in engineering, not biology. The wastewater engineers found very little math to evaluate wastewater treatment bacteria. So instead of bioaugmentation, most industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants used polymers and chemicals to treat their wastewater problems. Q. So what can bacteria and bioaugmentation really do? A. First, its important to remember that bacteria are alive. They have certain nutrient requirement that they need to live, grow, and reproduce. Here’s a quick list of the most important parameters: Dissolved Oxygen – Greater than .5mg/L Temperature – 50-95 degrees F. pH 6-9 Ammonia 1-3 mg/L Phosphate .5-2 mg/L Yes, a wastewater treatment plant can operate out side...

The Role of Bacteria in the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Process In general, an area that is largely misunderstood in industrial wastewater treatment is the role played by bacteria, both indigenous and applied via bioaugmentation. With few exceptions, most industrial wastewater treatment of organic compounds  is intended to take advantage of the natural processes of wastewater treatment bacteria. Bacteria may be aerobic, anaerobic or facultative anaerobes. Aerobic bacteria require oxygen to perform their metabolic functions and reproduce. Anaerobes cannot live and reproduce in the presence of oxygen. Facultative bacteria have the ability to live either in the presence or absence of oxygen. For the purposes of our discussion, we’ll talk about aerobic bacteria and discouraging or controlling the anaerobes. In the typical industrial wastewater treatment facility, air is added to improve the metabolism and functioning of the aerobic bacteria. This addition of air is also done to enhance the aerobes at the expense of the anaerobes. A number of factors are controlled at an industrial wastewater treatment plant. All of them with the idea of improving the environmental conditions for the native bacteria. Conditions that are sometimes controlled are: Settling pH Temperature Agitation Aeration Introduction to Bacteria Bacteria may be classified in a number of ways like size, shape, genus,...

Custom HC – Bioremediation Bacteria Custom Biologicals, Inc. produces Custom HC, a bioremediation bacteria product formulated to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, dry cleaning fluids, chlorinated solvents, and other hazardous environmental contaminants in soil, water, and groundwater applications. Custom HC contains live, petrophilic (oil loving) bacteria. These bioremediation bacteria have been specifically selected because of their enhanced ability to metabolize (eat) petroleum products such as; fuel oils, phenols, diesel, BTEX components, heating oil, antifreeze constituents, and more. Bioremediation is the process of using bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms to degrade selected pollutants and return the soil or groundwater altered by the contaminants to their original condition.  Bioaugmentation is bioremediation with the application of laboratory grown organisms like Custom HC to increase pollutant degradation, reduce cleanup time, and reduce costs of nutrients, machines, and manpower. Bioaugmentation is bioremediation with the application of laboratory grown organisms to augment the populations of bacteria that can degrade oil.  Degrade oil with Custom HC.  Custom HC has petrophilic bacteria, scientifically chosen for their ability to effectively degrade hydrocarbons, packaged in extremely high concentrations. Bioaugmentation with Custom HC will:         increase total petrophilic bacteria counts         increase effective petrophilic populations         decrease cleanup time   (and time is money)...