Environmental Biotechnology PDF

Environment al Biotechnolo gy Course code- Maj/ Biotech- 403 Introduction  is the application of biotechnology in the natural environment.  The International Society for Environmental Biotechnology defines environmental biotechnology as "the develop...

Environment al Biotechnolo gy Course code- Maj/ Biotech- 403 Introduction  is the application of biotechnology in the natural environment.  The International Society for Environmental Biotechnology defines environmental biotechnology as "the development, use and regulation of biological systems for remediation of contaminated environments (land, air, water), and for environment-friendly processes (green manufacturing technologies and sustainable development)”.  In simple words, it can be described as "the optimal use of nature, in the form of plants, bacteria, fungi and algae, to produce renewable energy, food and nutrients in a cycle of profit making processes where the waste of each process becomes the feedstock for another process".  Developing countries in Asia have high levels of atmospheric pollution (both in air and water) and coupled with increasing population, creates enormous sewage and waste disposal problems.  Improper disposal of solid and hazardous waste not only damages the environment but causes the maximum health issues.  Incineration was considered the best way of disposing solid wastes, especially domestic wastes.  Today using the process of anaerobic digestion, bio- degradable solid wastes can be converted into bio-gas and organic materials. Advantage of environmental biotechnology i. useful ways to help clean up the environment and keep it green for the future generations. ii. Eliminating the use of pollutants and wastes that affect our environment, there is a need to promote and sustain the development of our society with the lowest possible impact on the environment. i. distinguish between similar species and ensure species are not at risk of extinction. ii. create alternative energy sources (i.e. Biofuel, biogas, biodiesel).  Environmental biotechnology Research Centers Many modern nations have environmental biotechnology research centers that are both publicly and privately funded to advance environmental science technology. Examples of these include the Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre (EBCRC) in Australia that is focused on industrial pollution control.  the Center for Environmental Biotechnology (CEB) in the US that researches hydrological and microbial systems as they relate to issues of climate change and environmental remediation using biological processes.  Significance towards industrial biotechnology  Among the most significant of environmental technology solutions that is offered by research and development into environmental biotechnology is that of the production of waste-based feedstocks.  Feedstocks are useless materials produced by one industrial process that can find additional value in another process instead of being an environmental pollutant and waste product both in material and energy costs.  In the case of oil spills in the oceans which require cleanup, microbes isolated from oil rich environments like oil wells, oil transfer pipelines...etc. have been found having the potential to degrade oil or use it as an energy source. Thus they serve as a remedy to oil spills.  Wood pulp and bark waste from paper production can be used to produce biofuels.  Other types of feedstock includes corn stover, a waste corn byproduct that can be used to create ethanol,  Soybean soapstock, a byproduct of soybean oil production that can be used to create biodiesel fuel.  Corn stover, algae and cellulose (from wood and grass) can be converted into biofuel………………...  In Penicillin manufacture, the fungal biomass that remains after making penicillin can be converted to animal feed.  Bleaching process in textile industry needs chemicals that can now be substituted with enzymes causing lesser effluents and requiring lesser energy.  One of the practical appl. of Env. Bio. is to use a combination of bacteria and plants to reconfigure any piece of land and make it free of toxic substances……………industrial land into land suitable for human habitation. Applications of Environmental Biotechnology  Environmental biotechnology have most popular and commonly practiced applications of environmental biotechnology in various fields and industries. I. Bio-composting II. Bio-energy III.Bioremediation IV.Bio-Transformation V. Bio-markers  Bio-composting  involves combining organic materials under certain controlled conditions that decomposes them at a faster rate than they would decompose under natural conditions in free surroundings.  Bioenergy  Fuels like biogas, biomass, and hydrogen being used for industrial, domestic purposes. All these fuels belong to the category of Bioenergy.  Energy generation from organic waste or biomass is the finest example of green energy.  As per the recent need it is reported that the need of clean energy out of these fuels and alternative ways of finding clean energy is the need of the hour.  Bioremediation  Bioremediation is a clean-up technology that uses naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade hazardous substances into less toxic or nontoxic compounds.  Bio-Transformation  Bio-Transformation is a process of Biological changes of complex compound to simpler toxic to non-toxic or vice-versa.  Itis used in manufacturing industries where toxic substances are released as byproducts.  Biomarker  This type of application of environmental Biotechnology gives response to a chemical that helps to measure the level of damage caused or the exposure of the toxic or the pollution effect caused.  In other word, Biomarker can also be called as the Biological markers the major use of this applications helps to relate the connection between the oils and its sources.  In principle, Environmental biotechnology may include: a) Cleaning of effluents and treatment of waste b) Alternative and more environmental friendly processes c) Alternative and more environmental friendly products Microbial world in relation to Environmental Biotechnology  Archaea  Bacteria  Algae  Protozoa  Fungi  Viruses  The environment in a farm is usually messy and requires constant physical labor in keeping the place clean and hygienic. But biotechnology products are now helping to keep the farm environment spick and span.  Governmental initiatives in propagating the continued growth of research in Env. Biotech. have been substantial.  Therefore, it would not be out of place to conclude that concepts of Env. Biotech. and its applications in the environment are slowly gaining ground and one could rightly say that Env. Biotech. is surely turning green.