Editing Bioaugmentation (section)

{{Short description|Concept in microbiology}}
'''Biological augmentation''' is the addition of [[archaea]] or [[bacterial culture]]s required to speed up the rate of [[Biodegradation|degradation]] of a [[contaminant]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Scientists Discover Analog for Extraterrestrial Life in Idaho Hot Spring|url = http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/archaea.html|website = toxics.usgs.gov|access-date = 2015-09-11|first = David W.|last = Morganwalp|archive-date = 2021-04-21|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210421144139/https://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/archaea.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> Organisms that originate from contaminated areas may already be able to break down waste, but perhaps inefficiently and slowly.

Bioaugmentation is a type of bioremediation in which it requires studying the [[Endemic (ecology)|indigenous]] varieties present in the location to determine if [[biostimulation]] is possible. After discovering the indigenous bacteria found in the location, if the indigenous bacteria can metabolize the contaminants, more of the indigenous bacterial cultures will be implemented into the location to boost the degradation of the contaminants. Bioaugmentation is the introduction of more archaea or bacterial cultures to enhance the contaminant degradation whereas biostimulation is the addition of nutritional supplements for the indigenous bacteria to promote the bacterial metabolism. If the indigenous variety do not have the [[metabolic]] capability to perform the remediation process, [[exogenous]] varieties with such sophisticated pathways are introduced. The utilization of bioaugmentation provides advancement in the fields of microbial ecology and biology, immobilization, and bioreactor design.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Herrero|first1=M|last2=Stuckey|first2=D.C.|title=Bioaugmentation and its application in wastewater treatment: A review|journal=Chemosphere|year=2015|volume=140|pages=119–128|doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.10.033|pmid=25454204|bibcode=2015Chmsp.140..119H|hdl=10044/1/19478|via=Elsevier Science Direct|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

Bioaugmentation is commonly used in [[municipal wastewater]] [[wastewater treatment|treatment]] to restart activated sludge [[bioreactor]]s. Most cultures available contain microbial cultures, already containing all necessary microorganisms (''[[Bacillus licheniformis|B. licheniformis]]'', ''[[Bacillus thuringiensis|B. thuringiensis]]'', ''[[Paenibacillus polymyxa|P. polymyxa]]'', ''[[Bacillus stearothermophilus|B. stearothermophilus]]'', [[Penicillium|''Penicillium'' sp.]], [[Aspergillus sp.|''Aspergillus'' sp.]], ''[[Flavobacterium]]'', ''[[Arthrobacter]]'', ''[[Pseudomonas]]'', ''[[Streptomyces]]'', ''[[Saccharomyces]]'', etc.). Activated sludge systems are generally based on microorganisms like bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, rotifers, and fungi, which are capable of degrading biodegradable organic matter. There are many positive outcomes from the use of bioaugmentation, such as the improvement in efficiency and speed of the process of breaking down substances and the reduction of toxic particles in an area.<ref>Huban, C.M. [Betz-Dearborn Inc., and R.D. [Sybron Chemicals Plowman, [http://www.osti.gov/scitech/biblio/455431#  "Bioaugmentation: Put Microbes to Work.” Chemical Engineering 104.3"], (1997): n. pag. Print.</ref>