Environmental Biotechnology
BTEC 3343
LECTURE SCHEDULE: Male Students, Sun & Tue 9:30 – 11:00, CLASSROOM B341
Female Students, Sun & Tue 8:00 – 9:30, CLASSROOM L102
Course Lecturer, Dr. Kamal E. M. Elkahlout , Assistant Prof. of Biotechnology
Books being reviewed during the course time:
 Environmental Biotechnology by Gareth M. Evans and Judith C. Fulong, 2003,
JHON WILEY & SONS LTD.
 Environmental Biotechnology by T. Srinivas, 2008, New Age International (P)
Ltd., Publishers
Other references will be indicated by the lecturer
SYLLABUS
Students must ensure to achieve the following learning outcomes during the semester:
• Understand the definition of environmental biotechnology and its applications in
overcoming the major threats of our planet
• To learn strategies and protocols for utilization of microbes, plants in solving problems
of environment.
• To understand the significance of natural resources for ecofriendly, cost-effective
products.
• To study the role of advanced scientific studies in effective management of the
environment pollution.
• Study modern biotechnological tools in environmental monitoring and analysis.
UNIT I
Role of Biotechnology in Environment Protection:
What is Environmental Biotechnology? Current Status of Biotechnology in Environment
Protection, Future. Global environmental problems: Ozone depletion, UV-B, global
warming and acid rain, their impact and biotechnological approaches for management.
Air, noise and Thermal pollution, their causes, harmful effect and control.
UNIT II
Nature’s Self- Purification Process:
Sources of Heavy Metal Pollution, Microbial Systems for Heavy Metal and their
interaction
Accumulation Biosorption; Bioaugmentation; Bioaccumulation, Use of Genetically
Engineered Organisms.
Bioleaching: Extraction of metals from ores; Recovery of metals from solutions;
Microbes in petroleum extraction; Microbial desulfurization of coal. Biomining: Use of
microbes in biohydrometallurgy and biomineralization.
Solubilization and Biology of mineral leaching, Advantages and disadvantages of
biological mineral leaching, concentration of metals.
Dr. Kamal E. M. Elkahlout
Waste Water Treatment:
Microbiology and Biochemistry of Waste Water Treatment Biological Processes for
Industrial Effluent Treatment, Aerobic Biological Treatment, Anaerobic Biological
Treatment, Periodic Biological Reactors, Membrane Bioreactors, Use of Immobilized
Enzymes and Microbial Cell.
UNIT III
Bioremediation : What is Bioremediation?. Types of Bioremediation, Applications Examples, Biotechnology and Oil Spills.
Phytoremediation: Reclamation of disturbed ecosystems,
Biotechnology for Hazardous Waste Management :
Xenobiotic Compounds, Recalcitrance, Hazardous Wastes, Biodegradation of
Xenobiotics, Biological Detoxification, Biotechnology Applications to Hazardous Waste
Management, Examples of Biotechnological Applications to Hazardous Waste
Management.
UNIT IV
Biotechnological Approach for treating Contaminated soil and waste waters:
Bioreclamation: Sewage treatment, microbial degradation, control and mitigation of
chemical pollutants Pollution due to Pesticides, Tannery and Paper Industries and
Biotechnology. Heavy metal resistant microorganisms, Biotechnology for Waste
Treatment of Food and Allied Industries: Biological Treatment Methods, SCP and
Biomass from Waste, Distillery Industry.
Biotechniques for Air Pollution Abatement and Odor Control: Deodorization Proces,
Applications.
Solid Waste Management, Anaerobic digestion of waste
UNIT V
Biofuels:
Biogas production, Methane producing microorganisms, methanogenesis, biochemistry
of methane production,uses of biogas, Ethanol production, and its importance,
Microorganisms useful in the production of ethanol. Applications and drawbacks of
Ethanol production, microbial production of hydrogen by marine organisms, importance
and production of hydrogen, photoproduction of hydrogen Conversion of Wood: Fuel
wood, Carbonization, gasification, liquefaction and saccharification of wood, Biomass
gasification
Novel Methods for Pollution Control:
Vermitechnology, Phytotechnology: WasteWater Treatment Using Aquatic Plants,
Root Zone Treatment. Renewable Energy Aiming for Biodegradable and Eco-friendly
Products.
Dr. Kamal E. M. Elkahlout
Outcomes and assessment criteria
Outcomes
1.
Relate the significant contribution of
biotechnology in environment protection
2.
Nature’s Self- Purification Process:
3.
Explain various types of bioremediation
and analyse the significance of
biotechnology in hazardous waste
management
To understand all the Biotechnological
Approach for treating Contaminated soil
and waste waters:
4.
5.
Review various types of biofuels as a
source of energy
Assessment criteria
To achieve each outcome a student must
demonstrate the
ability to
 Evaluate the current status of
biotechnology in environment
protection
 Analyse the global environmental
problems and their causes like Ozone
depletion, UV-B, global warming, Air,
noise and Thermal pollution, acid rain
 Discuss all the harmful effects caused
by the environment pollutants which
threaten the environment.
 Analyse all the biotechnological
approaches for Environment protection
 Discuss the sources of heavy metal
pollution
 Describe the role of microbes in
biomining, bioleaching, biosorption
 Describe the biological process involved
in industrial effluent waste water
treatment
 Discuss the concept of bioremediation
 Explain Xenobiotic metabolism,
Explain the role of biotechnology in
hazardous waste management
 Discuss various pollutants of soil water
and air
 Discuss the various biological waste
water, air and soil treatment procedures
 Explain the production of various types
of biofuels
 Describe the role of biological agents in
pollution control
 Elaborate on current studies involved in
the production of biodegradable and
Eco friendly products
Course evaluation will be achieved through
 20% for one midterm exam after 8 weeks from beginning of the semester.
 20% for 10 quizzes (2% for each) this will start at the beginning of the third week
and will continue as one quiz per three lectures
 10 % for one term project or report
 50% for final exam.
Dr. Kamal E. M. Elkahlout