Environmental Biotechnology

Paper Code: 
BTE 601
Credits: 
03
Contact Hours: 
45
Objective: 

This paper will enable students to-

  • study and analyze various aspects of Biotechnology with respect to environment
  • learn the different biogeochemical cycles
  • study the factors involved in environmental pollution and remedies for its management
  • study various waste management techniques
9.00
Unit I: 
Environment: Basic concepts and issues

Soil, water and air environment, Microbial population of air, water and soil. Environment induced genetic and physiologic adaptations in microbes.

Population interaction: Neutralism, Commensalism, Synergism, Mutualism, Competition, Ammensalism, Parasitism, and Predation.

      Microbe – Microbe interaction

      Plant  - Microbe interaction

      Animal – Microbe interaction

12.00
Unit II: 
Biogeochemical Cycling

   The Carbon cycle

   Trophic relationship & immobilization of carbon within the biosphere

   The Hydrogen cycle and Oxygen cycle

   The Sulphur cycle

   Other element cycles- Phosphorus, Iron, Manganese, Heavy Metals

8.00
Unit III: 
Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen fixation in symbiotic and free living system, photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic systems, oxygen and hydrogen regulation of nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification and ammonifying bacteria. Pathway of nitrate assimilation in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic systems, Transamination and deamination processes.

8.00
Unit IV: 
Environmental Pollution

Environmental Pollution: types of pollution, methods for measurement of pollution; methodology of environmental management –the problem solving approach and its limitation.

Global environmental problems: Ozone depletion, UV- B, Green – House effect and acid rain, their impact and biotechnological approaches for management

8.00
Unit V: 
Waste Management

Wastewater treatment – Aerobic process – activated sludge, oxidation ditches, and trickling filters, rotating discs oxidation ponds.

Anaerobic Process – anaerobic digestion, anaerobic filters up flow anaerobic sludge.

 

Solid Wastes: Sources and management (composting, vermiculture, methane production). Bioremediation of contaminated soils and wasteland using GMOs. Biopesticides in integrated pest management.

 

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 
  1. Plant, Gene and crop Biotechnology, M.J. Chrispeel and D.E. Sadava ASPB 2003.
  2. Textbook of Environmental Biotechnology, P.K Mohapatra, I K International Publications, Mumbai 2006.
  3. Environmental Chemistry, A.K.De, Willey Eastern Ltd., New Delhi.
  4. Microbial Ecology- Fundamentals and applications. Ronald. M. Atlas, Richard Bartha. Pearson Education. 2005.
  5. Advances in Industrial Waste water treatment. P.K. Goel. First Edition. Techno sound Publications. 1999
REFERENCES: 
  1. Wastewater Engineering- Treatment, Disposal and Resuse, Metcall and Eddy, Inc., Tata McGraw Hill, Delhi.1999
  2. Comprehensive Biotechnology, vol.4, M. Moo- Young (Ed-in-chief), Pergamon Press, Oxford.
  3. Environmental Biotechnology – Basic concepts and applications, Indu Shekhar Thakur, I K International publications. 2006

 

Academic Year: 
2014-2015
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