Environmental Biotechnology

Version No.
Prerequisites
Objectives:

LTPC: 3

0 0

1.0.0
Organic Chemistry and Environmental Studies
To expose the students to the biotechnological component in waste and waste
water treatment
Expected Outcome:
Understanding the biological treatment processes and development of suitable
technologies
Unit No. 1
Solid Waste Management
Number of hours: 8
Municipal solids wastes characterization, treatment and disposal technologies. Landfills, composting,
electricity generation. Xenobiotic compounds, recalcitrance. hazardous wastes - biodegradation of
Xenobiotics . Biological detoxification.
Unit No. 2
Bioremediation
Number of hours: 9
Introduction, constraints and priorities of Bioremediation, Biostimulation of Naturally occurring
microbial activities, Bioaugmentation, in situ, ex situ, intrinsic & engineered bioremediation, Solid phase
bioremediation - land farming, prepared beds, soil piles, Phytoremediation. Composting, Bioventing &
Biosparging
Unit No. 3
Waste water treatment
Number of hours: 9
Liquid phase bioremediation - suspended bioreactors, fixed biofilm reactors. Aerated Processes
Activated Sludge (Suspended Growth), Aerated Lagoons, Waste Stabilization, Trickling Filter
(Attached Growth) Rotating Biological Contactors (RB Packed Beds) - Anaerobic Digestion
(Treatment) removal of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Unit No. 4
Industrial applications
Number of hours: 9
Pulp and paper industries biopulping, biobleaching, waste water treatment. Treatment of leather and
tannery waste water, Mining and Metal biotechnology with special reference to Copper & Iron.
Microbial transformation, accumulation and concentration of metals, metal leaching, extraction and
future prospects.
Unit No. 5
Gas purification and biofuels
Number of hours: 10
Microbial aspects Process engineering for waste gas purification: Biofilters, Bioscrubbers, Biotrickling
filters and membrane procedures. Commercial application of biological waste gas purification.
Microorganisms and energy requirements of mankind; Production of non-conventional fuels - Methane
(Biogas), Hydrogen, Alcohols and algal hydrocarbons, Use of microorganisms in augmentation of
petroleum recovery.
Text Books 1. Jrdening, H.-J. and J. Winter. (2005). Environmental Biotechnology. Wiley-Vch
Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
2. Chatterjee, A.K. 2005. Introduction to Environmental Biotechnology. Prentice-Hall of
India, NewDelhi
References
1. Evans, G.M. and J.C. Furlong. 2003. Environmental Biotechnology: Theory and
Application, John Wiley & Sons, Ontorio, Canada. P.302.
2. Rehm, I. and Reed. 1998. Biotechnology A comprehensive treatise. VCH Publications
Berlin.
3. Rajendran and Gunasekaran, P. 2004. Bioremediation. MJP Publishers, Chennai.
Mode of Evaluation
Written Examinations/ Assignments/ Seminars
Recommended by the Board of Studies on
13th November, 2008
Date of Approval by the Academic Council
25th November, 2008

Proceedings of the 16th Academic Council held on 25.11.2008