Bioaugmentation for enhancing biological wastewater treatment.

The literature on bioaugmentation products has been reviewed. Their manufacture and method of use is explained. The various applications are listed and the independent investigations, as opposed to manufacturers accounts, at laboratory and full scale are reviewed. The economics and kinetic modelling are also discussed. In laboratory investigations bioaugmentation often failed, whereas at full scale it was often successful, probably due to the imposition of steady state at laboratory scale. Most products require a period of acclimatisation before working; this and other possible reasons for failure are discussed.