1. Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation
Shu-Chi Chang, Ph.D., P.E., P.A.
Assistant Professor1 and Division Chief2
1Department of Environmental Engineering
2Division of Occupational Safety and Health,
Center for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health
National Chung Hsing University
Wednesday, May 23, 2007

2. Bioaugmentation (BA)
Addition of microorganisms to enhance a specific biological activity
Has been demonstrated to be beneficial on PHCs and chlorinated compounds.
Mass transport: Microbial attachment and contaminant mobility.
Hard to discern effects of BA from simultaneous biostimulation caused by nutrient addition.
May be useful in case of pollutant toxicity of lack of appropriate microorganisms
Success relies on an understanding of (1) bioavailability of contaminants, (2) survival and activity of added microorganisms or its genetic materials, and (3) general environmental conditions

3. Bioreactive Barriers
Need a side-by-side comparison of bioaugmentation and biostimulation
Dehalococcoids and Desulfuromonas were quantitatively monitored
Real-time PCR and Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism were employed

4. Introduction Dehalococcoids spp., Dehalococcoids ethenogens
Desulfuromonas spp.
KB-1

5. Methods

6. Methods

7. Results

8. Results

9. Results

10. Results

11. Results

12. Results

13. ATP + NADH luciferase ADP + NAD+ + l
Summary
Bioaugmentation is based on the ecological principle that natural microorganisms have not established a competitive 'niche' (function) for the contaminant. An inoculum has a high rate of success to establish as long as the contaminant is present, and the niche is unoccupied.
Requirement for some type of 'tracking mechanism' to establish that the degradation is due to biodegradative activity associated with the inoculum.
---> development of specific metabolic (e.g. Biolog), genetic (e.g. DNA and RNA probes) or physiological (e.g. FAME) fingerprints for the inoculum which can be recognized against 'autochthonous' microorganisms
---> development of bioluminescence probes; e.g luciferase genes coupled to biodegradative genes. Induction of the biodegradative enzymes by long chain aldehydes and alcohols will trigger luciferase expression:
ATP + NADH luciferase ADP + NAD+ + l