CVEN 601
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING PROCESSES III:
BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES
FALL 2003
Dr. Robin L. Autenrieth
205E WERC
TN: 409-845-3593
FN: 409-862-1542
EM: r-autenrieth@tamu.edu
Web: http://webct.tamu.edu/engineering/CVEN601/
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1.
2.
3.
Develop an understanding not only of fundamental biological principles, but more advanced biological
concepts.
Relate these principles to environmental engineering applications in natural systems and engineered
systems.
Develop the ability to apply your understanding of these biological processes to important
environmental problems to optimize existing systems (both natural and engineered) and formulate or
evaluate solutions to future environmental problems.
PERSPECTIVE OF COURSE
1.
2.
3.
Biology for the Environmental Engineer
a. applied, mathematical approach to biology
b. condensation of many aspects of biology
Student participation
a. control pace of class with questions
b. students must keep up with the material
fill “gaps” in knowledge with supplemental reading
review notes prior to class
hand in assignments on time
Homework
a. for your practice
for the examinations
to learn the material
to develop quantitative skills
b. develop engineering skills for biological process applications
GRADING
Homework
Quizzes (2)
Final Exam
Written Report
Oral Report
15%
40%
20%
15%
10%
(tentative dates: 10/14, 11/18)
(Wednesday, December 17th, 1-3 pm)
TEXTBOOK
Environmental Biotechnology: Principles and Applications, B.E. Rittmann and P.L. McCarty, McGrawHill, NY, 2001
REFERENCE MATERIALS
Brock Biology of Microorganisms (Biology of Microorganisms), 9th Edition, M. T. Madigan, J.M.
Martinko, J. Parker, Prentice-Hall, 2000
Manual of ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, C. Hurst, G. Knudsen, M. McInerney, L. Stetzenbach,
M. Walter, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C., 1997
Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, 2nd Edition, James E. Bailey and David F. Ollis, McGraw-Hill
Book Co., New York, 1986
Biology, 3rd Edition, Neil A. Campbell, The Benjamin/Cumminds Publishing Company, Inc., New York,
1993 or a more recent edition.
Principles of Biochemistry, 2nd Edition, Albert L. Lehninger, David L. Nelson, Michael M. Cox, Worth
Publishers, new York, 1993.
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Stephen L. Wolfe, Wadsworth Publishing Company, CA, 1993.
Bioprocess Engineering Basic Concepts, Michael L. Shuler and Fikret Kargi, Prentice Hall, new Jersey,
1992.
Environmental Microbiology, Ralph Mitchell (ed), Wiley-Liss, New York, 1993.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
The Handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By “handouts,” I mean all materials generated for this
class, which include but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab exercises, in-class materials, review
sheets, and additional problem sets. Because these materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to
copy the handouts, unless I expressly grant permission.
As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one’s own the ideas, words, writings, etc.,
which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the
work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person.
Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without
which research cannot be safely communicated. If it is determined that you plagiarized, you will receive a
failing grade for the test/assignment/paper.
If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University
Student Rules, under the section “Scholastic Dishonesty.”
Some of all examinations will be closed book; retrieval of data, formulae, examples, definitions, etc. from a
crib sheet, calculator or other device during these examinations is a violation of Texas A&M University
Student Rule 20.1.1. Acquiring Information. Violation of this rule can result in disciplinary action
including a grade penalty, up to and including an F in the course, suspension, dismissal, and expulsion from
Texas A&M University.
Unless otherwise stated, all homework in this class is expected to be individual work. Copying the work of
others, including homework, is a violation of Texas A&M University Student Rule 20.2.2 Acquiring
Information.
WRITTEN REPORT
NOTE: YOUR TOPIC MUST BE APPROVED BY THE INSTRUCTOR
1.
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2.
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Topic
Current or emerging topics in environmental engineering aspects of biological processes
Choose a professional journal whose format you will follow in preparing your written report to
provide guidelines for the structure of the paper, reference format, etc.
Topic must be approved by course instructor.
Report Content
Written length approximately 20 pages; spacing 1.5
Your paper should be a CRITICAL review of literature on a selected topic NOT a sequential
review of collected articles; information is to be integrated topically from relevant articles.
Your report should be thorough and contain references to various types of information sources,
e.g. journal articles, government reports, books, etc. from recent (last 5-8 years) publications.
Taking information directly from a source must be properly referenced and quotation
marks used for direct quotations.
All figures and tables taken from the literature must be appropriately referenced.
Unless information can be referenced to a physically retrievable source (e.g. paper), it
should not be used including information obtained from internet sources.
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Include a copy of the author guidelines from the select journal used for your paper format.
CAUTION: Review the regulations regarding PLAGIARISM. This is a serious offense and will result
in a failing grade if detected in your report. When plagiarism occurs, it is often because students do
not understand the regulations. It is your responsibility to abide by the regulations.
3.
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Schedule
Submit topic – September 30
Submit outline –October 30
Submit written report – December 2 (no extensions granted)
ORAL PRESENTATION
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2.
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Topic (same as for written report)
Presentation
20 minute presentation to be video taped
Powerpoint (or equivalent software) presentation quality
Electronic and paper copies of presentation materials are due 24 hours prior to the time/date you
are scheduled to tape your presentation.
Schedule to be determined (between December 9-18)
Evaluation
self evaluation
instructor evaluation
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING PROCESSES III
COURSE OUTLINE
TOPIC
I.
Introduction
II.
Classes of Biomolecules
III.
Cell Anatomy and Physiology
A. Basics
B. Environmental significance
No. Lectures
1
9/2
1
9/4
1
9/9
IV.
Cellular Functions
A. Background
B. Contaminant alterations of processes
C. PCR, genetic engineering
3
9/11-18
V.
Protein Form and Function
A. Fundamental principles
B. Quantification for process design
C. Biopolymers
2
9/23,25
VI.
Bioenergetics
A. Gibb’s free energy
B. Redox reactions
C. Electron acceptors in the environment
D. Quantification
2
9/30-10/2
V.
Exam #1 Material
4
10/7-21
Microbial Kinetics
A. Equilibrium and kinetics
B. Inhibition
C. Modeling
VII.
Biofilm Kinetics
A. Structure
B. Transport
C. Modeling
2
10/23,28
X.
Reactors
A. Batch, Plug flow, CSTR
B. Engineering Design
2
10/30-11/4
XI.
Engineered Biological Systems
A. Activated sludge
Tour of wastewater treatment plant
B. Lagoons
C. Aerobic biofilms
D. Nitrification
E. Denitrification
F. Phosphorus removal
6
11/6-12/4
VII.
Exam #2 Material
Biodegradation of Xenobiotic Compounds
Final Exam: Wednesday, December 17th, 1-3 pm
12/9