Environmental Microbiology

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

This paper will enable students to:

  • Understand and know various aspects of environment, its composition and properties.
  • Understand the significance of various components of environment.
  • To be aware of various types of biogeochemical cycles.
  • Know the concepts of biodegradation, biodetorioration, and bioleaching.

 

8.00
Unit I: 
Microbiology of Air, Water and Soil

Microbial population of  air, water (drinking and potable) and soil. Population interaction: Neutralism, Commensalism, Synergism, Mutualism, Competition, Ammensalism, Parasitism, and Predation.

 

8.00
Unit II: 
Biogeochemical Cycles

Carbon  Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Sulphur Cycle, Phosphorus Cycle, Iron, heavy metals cycles. Hydrogen and Oxygen cycle.

10.00
Unit III: 
Solid and Liquid Waste Disposal

Different types of liquid waste treatment: Primary, Secondary and tertiary treatment.

Aerobic process – activated sludge, oxidation ditches, and trickling filters, Anaerobic Process – anaerobic digestion, anaerobic filters, up flow anaerobic sludge.

Solid Wastes: Sources and management (Sanitary landfills, incineration, composting, vermiculture, methane production).

10.00
Unit IV: 
Biodegradation and Bioremediation

Biodegradation of natural compounds (cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, starch, chitin), Biodegradation of environmental pollutants: (Aromatic and Aliphatic Pesticides, synthetic polymers, detergents and hydrocarbons), Bioremediation of  Xenobiotics, bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

9.00
Unit V: 
Biodeterioration and Bioleaching

Biodeterioration of paper and paper pulp, wood, paint, textiles, leather, metals (corrosion). Control of  biodetorioration.

Bioleaching of metals, Microbial enhanced oil recovery.

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. Advances in Industrial Waste water treatment, First Edition, Technosound Publications. 1999.
  5. Microbial Ecology- Fundamentals & Applications, 4th Edition, Ronald . M. Atlas, Richard Bartha, Pearsrson Publication. 2005
REFERENCES: 
  1. Wastewater Engineering- Treatment, Disposal and Resuse, Metcall and Eddy, Inc., Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi., 1999
  2. Comprehensive Biotechnology, Vol.4, M. Moo- Young (Ed-in-chief), Pergamon Press, Oxford.
  3. Introduction to Biodeterioration. D Allsopp and K J Seal, ELBS/Edward Arnold.
  4.  Bioremediation Engineering: design and Application,  Cookson, J T  McGraw- Hill, Inc.1995
  5.  Environmental Biotechnology – Basic concepts and applications, Indu Shekhar Thakur, I K International publications. 2006
Academic Year: 
2017-2018
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