Bioaugmentation

Bioaugmentation is the term used to describe the addition of cultured microorganism to the subsurface that are capable of biodegrading or transforming specific groundwater/soil contaminants. In some cases certain microorganisms are more specialized at degrading specific target contaminants, i.e some microbes can degrade DCE and VC but not TCE or vice-versa. As a result, remediation industry practices have shifted toward a more prescriptive approach to bioaugmentation to achieve cost-savings and accelerate site remediation.

Bioaugmentation for Enhanced Aerobic Biodegradation

Relative to bioaugmentation for the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons or any aerobically degradeable contaminants in soil and groundwater, it is rare if ever that the addition or augmentation of aerobic degraders is required to facilitate aerobic biodegradation processes. Research has shown that aerobes are ubiquitous and are typically limited by the availability of oxygen to sustain and or grow their populations. Regenesis recommends the use of Oxygen Release Compound (ORC®) or Advanced Oxygen Release Compound (ORC Advanced®) for the controlled –release, cost-effective delivery of oxygen into the subsurface to stimulate aerobic biodegradation.

Bioaugmentation for Enhanced Aerobic Biodegradation

Relative to bioaugmentation for the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons or any aerobically degradeable contaminants in soil and groundwater, it is rare if ever that the addition or augmentation of aerobic degraders is required to facilitate aerobic biodegradation processes. Research has shown that aerobes are ubiquitous and are typically limited by the availability of oxygen to sustain and or grow their populations. Regenesis recommends the use of Oxygen Release Compound (ORC®) or Advanced Oxygen Release Compound (ORC Advanced®) for the controlled –release, cost-effective delivery of oxygen into the subsurface to stimulate aerobic biodegradation.

Bioaugmentation for Enhanced Anaerobic Biodegradation

Relative to bioaugmentation for the degradation of chlorinated compounds in soil and groundwater, many remediation practitioners today recommend the addition of cultured anaerobic microorganisms for the biodegradation of certain target compounds. The compounds most often targeted with anaerobic degraders include:dichloroethylene (DCE) and vinyl chloride. These two significant subsurface contaminants can be produced in relatively high quantities during the reductive dechlorination of parent compounds such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). Specific strains of anaerobic bacteria have been isolated, cultured and are now commercially available for the biodegradation of DCE and vinyl chloride. Regenesis provides Bio-Dechlor INOCULUM® Plus, a bioaugmentation culture designed specifically for this purpose and that can be coupled with any one of Regenesis’ electron donor materials (HRC, HRC-X, HRC Primer, 3DMe) as an additional hydrogen source.