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Bioremediation of a Sewage-Contaminated Tropical Swamp Through Bioaugmentation with a Microalgae-Predominant Microbial Consortium

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Abstract

Bioaugmentation has many applications as a bioremediation technique. It is usually performed by bacteria but microalgal consortia also have great potential for bioremediation. This study evaluated the ability of a microbial consortium with predominance of microalgae (MCPM) to decontaminate the water of the Mallorquín tropical swamp. The Mallorquín Swamp is a natural water reservoir, essential for the ecological and hydric balance of the region, as well as for the fishermen, but has received sewage for more than 20 years. Microalgae for bioremediation purposes were isolated from the swamp, selected, cultured in bioreactors, and poured back into the Mallorquín waters. After bioaugmentation, there was a significant reduction in the BOD5 (98%), nitrates (58%), enterococci (92%), and total coliforms (100%). Notably, despite the MCPM bioaugmentation, the original richness and abundance of phytoplankton in the Mallorquín swamp was not disrupted. These results confirm the benefits of phycoremediation as an effective tool for on-site bioremediation of natural water bodies and show an effective phycoremediation at a large scale without altering the autochthonous microalgae community. This constitutes the first report of a successful MCPM intervention performed at this scale in a natural swamp in Colombia.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Río Grande de la Magdalena – CORMAGDALENA- for financing the project. Authors thank The Corporación Regional Autónoma del Atlántico – CAR- for their technical support during the execution of fieldwork activities. Authors thank The Universidad Simón Bolívar, sede Barranquilla, for their administrative support to carry out the work. School of Sciences, Universidad de Los Andes (proyecto semilla INV-2018-33-1314).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1 #18a 12, 111711, Bogotá, Colombia

    Jaime E. Gutiérrez & Martha J. Vives

  2. Biotecnología Y Bioingeniería CORE S.A, Cra 54 # 58-78 Suite 407, 080001, Barranquilla, Colombia

    Jaime E. Gutiérrez

  3. Algae BioSolutions S.A.S. Phycore, Carrera 54 # 58-78, Suite 407a, Barranquilla, Colombia

    Nohora Gutiérrez-Hoyos & Juan Sebastián Gutiérrez

  4. Phycospectrum Environmental Research Centre (PERC), 132 AK Block 7th Main Road, Anna Nagar, Chennai, 600040, India

    V. Sivasubramanian

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  1. Jaime E. Gutiérrez
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  2. Nohora Gutiérrez-Hoyos
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  3. Juan Sebastián Gutiérrez
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  4. Martha J. Vives
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  5. V. Sivasubramanian
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Correspondence to Jaime E. Gutiérrez.

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Gutiérrez, J.E., Gutiérrez-Hoyos, N., Gutiérrez, J.S. et al. Bioremediation of a Sewage-Contaminated Tropical Swamp Through Bioaugmentation with a Microalgae-Predominant Microbial Consortium. Indian J Microbiol 62, 307–311 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-021-00990-y

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