Lecture # 1

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Environmental Biotechnology is an approach of biotechnology for the abatement of different
issues of the environment (air, water and soil) for the service of mankind. It is actually use of
microbiology for environmental cleaning, restoration and protection. It is used to detect,
analyze, remediate and monitor the contaminants released in the environment due to different
anthropogenic activities. There are many contaminants that are released from the different
sources in the environment. Few of major contaminants of environment are shown with the
help of the figure (1).

Fig 1: Different contaminants in the environment

The major environmental issues which biotechnology is utilizing are:
• Identification of species, preservation and conservation of biodiversity.
• Exciting new developments in renewable energy generation research.
• Tackling pollution and contamination which has already affected land, water and air. A
range of techniques including bioremediation and phytoremediation are used to reduce or
remove xenobiotics from contaminated environments.
• Processing of current wastes streams from industry; agricultural and domestic wastes. In
wastewater treatment, natural capability of living organisms is exploited to reduce the
pollution potential of effluents.
• Devising new reduced-waste, renewable environmental friendly technologies to replace
current industrial processes.
• The improvement of livestock through genetic manipulation.
• The development of ‘clean industrial product processes and services’ is a potentially huge
growth area for environmental biotechnology.
Environmental Clean Up Technologies
a. Bioremediation

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Biotechnology processes to protect the environment have been used for almost a century
now, even longer than the term ‘biotechnology’ came into existence. Bioremediation is the
use of the biological systems for the reduction of pollutants from air, water and terrestrial
systems. Microorganisms and plants are the biological systems which are generally used.
Biodegradation with microorganism is the most frequently occurring bioremediation option.
Microorganisms can break down most compounds for their growth and energy needs. These
biodegradation processes may or may not need air. In some cases, metabolic pathways which
organisms normally use for growth and energy supply may also be used to break down
pollutant molecules. This phenomenon is known as co-metabolism. Researchers have taken
advantage of this phenomenon and used it for bioremediation purposes. A complete
biodegradation results in detoxification or mineralizing pollutants to carbon dioxide, water
and harmless inorganic salts.
b. Phytoremediation
Bioremediation using plants is called phytoremediation. This technique is used to remove
metals from contaminated soils and groundwater. phytoremediation is being further explored
for the remediation of other pollutants. The combined use of plants and bacteria may also be
possible. Certain bacteria live closely and are associated with the roots of the plants and
depend on substances excreted by the roots. Such rhizobacteria whose numbers are much
higher than those of other soil bacteria, may be genetically modified to break down
pollutants. Recombinant DNA technology has improved the possibilities for the prevention of
pollution and holds a promise for a further development of bioremediation.
c. Solid Waste Management
Domestic solid wastes are a major problem in society. Their elimination is both costly and
warrants constant surveillance in terms of groundwater and air pollution. Yet, for a major part
they are composed of readily biodegradable organics. In this respect, some separated
biowaste can be conserved to valuable resource by composting or anaerobic digestion. In
recent years, both processes have remarkable developments in terms of process design and
control. Particularly, anaerobic digestion of solid waste in high-rate anaerobic digesters has
gained increased public acceptance because it permits the recovery of substantial amounts of
high-value biogas together with high quality stable organic/inorganic nutrients.
Alternative solutions
a. Biomass Energy Production
Fossil fuels are one of the major contributors of pollutants in the environment. Different air
pollutants like CO, HC, PAH, Soots, etc. are released due to use of fossil fuels.
Environmental biotechnology approach has helped in the production of alternative fuels
through different biomass. The biomass may be of any living matter or its residue that has
potential to form energy. One of the important alternatives used against fossil fuels is ethanol
that is being utilized in blended mode with other fuels. Biomass employed by biotechnology
is also a good source of biogas which is quite compatible for the environment. The biogas
which majorly contains CO2 and methane are produced from the organic matter, kitchen
waste, Courtyard Waste, sugarcane waste and many other carbon sources. This biogas is
again a good source of energy and can be used in different sectors, thereby reduces pressure
on fossil fuels.

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 b. Biopesticides
For consistent high yields, the traditional agricultural system applies numerous chemicals,
such as insecticides and fertilizers, on a huge scale. Nevertheless, alternatives to this system
are needed due to worries about environmental preservation and issues related to human
health. A great substitute for conventional chemical pesticides is biopesticides. Biopesticides
are classes of compounds that are derived from natural substances including plants, animals,
microbes, or specific minerals that can be used to directly or indirectly suppress, inhibit,
damage or kill a pest. Thus, biotechnology is a fast-expanding area of biology that has a
variety of applications in the sustainable agriculture, starting with the creation of chemical-
free biopesticides.
Microorganisms are used to create pesticides that are extremely effective, species-specific,
and environmentally friendly. These microorganisms are the important part of integrated pest
management techniques. Few of the microorganism used as biopesticides and considered safe
are Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus sphaericus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Nostoc piscinale,
Chlamydopodium fusiforme, Chlorella vulgaris, etc.
c. Biofertilizers
Biofertilizers are biological products that employs microorganism to improve the soil fertility
and enhance plant growth naturally. The activities like nitrogen fixation, phosphorus
solubilization, synthesis of plant growth hormones, etc. is triggered with application of such
biofertilizers. The microorganism used for biofertilizers includes Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing
Cyanobacteria and Free-Living Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria. The commonly utilized
biofertilizers are Rhizobium, Azolla pinnata, Clostridium, Azotobacter and Azospirillum.
Other biofertilizers are plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria, phosphate solubilizers such as
Alcaligenes, Serratia, Rhizobacteria, Erwinia, etc. Biotechnology helps to culture these
organisms in a large amount so that they can be used as biopesticides and further by means of
genetic engineering their efficiency is also enhanced.
d. Bio-Enzymes
Bio-enzymes are an effective biological instrument that supports environmental cleanliness in
a number of ways. The bio-enzyme are used in agriculture and soil stabilization, for treating
the water bodies, to purify the air, monitoring the pollutants and for managing different type
of waste. Bioenzymes can completely alter a contaminant's toxicological structure or
completely turn a harmful chemical into a harmless inorganic end product. The bio-enzymes
are specific for a specific type of contaminants and has potential to transform and detoxify it
efficiently. Enzymes like Hydrolases, Esterases, nitrilases, lipase, cutinase, etc are few
enzymes that are found effective against xenobiotics such as herbicides, pesticides,
organophosphorus compounds, nitrile compounds, and other polymers. Numerous enzymes
from diverse microorganisms have been reported to be essential in applications for
wastewater treatment. Enzymes can precisely target resistant pollutants and remove them by
precipitating and transforming them into other products. They can also alter the features of a
given waste to make it more amenable to treatment or help turn trash into goods with
additional value. The likelihood of enzyme leaching into solution is reduced while the
mechanical and thermal stability of the enzymes is increased through immobilization.
ABATEMENT OF POLLUTION

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Originally industrial waste gas treatment systems were based on cheap compost filled filters
that removed odours. Such systems still exist however, slow processing rates and the short
life of such filters drove research into better methods such as bioscrubbers, in which the
pollutants are washed out using a cell suspension and bio-trickling systems, thereby the
pollutants are degraded by microorganisms immobilized on inert matrix and provided with an
aqueous nutrient film trickling through the device. The selection of microorganisms that are
more efficient of metabolizing pollutants has also led to better air and gas purifying biofilters.
Increasing industrial and agricultural pollution has led to a greater need for processes that
remove specific pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. New methods
include aerobic, anaerobic and physico-chemical processes in fixed bed filter and in
bioreactors in which the materials and microbes are held in suspension. The costs of
wastewater treatment can be reduced by the conversion of waste into useful products. Most
anaerobic wastewater treatment technology systems produce useful biogas. Biotechnology
has provided successful methods by which wastewater compounds can be removed. A very
important aspect of biotechnology is therefore its potential for the reclamation and
purification of wastewaters for the re-use-public concern has also increased in the
development of sustainable use of resources.
GENETIC ENGINEERING
Recombinant DNA technology has had amazing repercussions in the last few years.
Recombinant DNA technology has improved the possibility for the prevention of pollution
and holds a promise for a further development of bioremediation. Nowadays organisms can
also be supplemented with additional genetic processes for the biodegradation of specific
pollutants if naturally occurring organisms are not able to do that job properly or not quickly
enough. By combining different metabolic abilities in the same microorganism, bottlenecks
in environmental cleanup may be circumvented. Naturally occurring organisms can be found
suited to clean up a polluted site. For example soil bacteria have developed a new process in
response to the introduction of xenobiotics. In some cases, they even appear to have acquired
properties from other species. The changes in the proteomic and genomic characteristics of
the adopted microorganisms in the contaminated sites will be of interest to environmentalists
to select the microorganisms for bioremediation of xenobiotics. Bioinformatics provide
microbial data and pathway for biodegradation of xenobiotic compounds. Bioinformatics in
bioremediation would be an advanced technology. In the USA, some genetically modified
bacteria have been approved for bioremediation.
BIOINFORMATICS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION
The revolution in computer technology has made it possible to model grand challenge
problems such as large scale sequencing of genomes and management of large integrated
databases. This availability of data has led to an explosion of genome and proteome analysis
leading to many new discoveries and tools. The availability of genomics and proteomics data
and improved bioinformatics and biochemical tools has raised the expectation of humanity to
be able to control the genetics by manipulating the existing microbes. In addition,
bioinformatics analysis has enhanced our understanding of the genome structure and the
microorganisms restructuring process. Bioinformatics analysis will facilitate and quicken the
analysis of systematic level behaviour of cellular processes, and to understanding the cellular
processes in order to treat and control microbial cells as factories. Bioinformatics techniques

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have been developed to identify and analyze various components of cells such as gene and
protein function, interactions, and metabolic and regulatory pathways. The next decade will
belong to understanding cellular mechanism and cellular manipulation using the integration
of bioinformatics.
NANOTECHNOLOGY— ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Environmental monitoring is becoming increasingly critical to protect the public and the
environment from toxic contaminants and pathogens released into air, soil and water from
toxic chemical wastes, spills, manufacturing waste and even underground storage tanks. The
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed strict regulations on the maximum
allowable concentrations of many environmental contaminants in air and water and is
reported to have been monitoring over two million underground storage tanks containing
hazardous (and often volatile) contaminants from as early as 1992. Nanotechnology has the
potential to bring in solutions to minimize or eliminate the use of toxic materials and the
generation of undesirable by-products, and also sensitively detect (and monitor) specific
polluting agents well before any major environmental catastrophes occur. Research related to
improved industrial processes and starting material requirements, development of new
chemical and industrial procedures and materials to replace current hazardous constituents
and processes, resulting in reductions in energy, materials and waste generation are being
supplemented by the application of nanotechnology to control and predict the potential
damage to the environment.
BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is the vast array of all the aspects of plants, animals, insects and microorganisms
inhabiting the earth in the aquatic or the terrestrial habitats. Biological diversity has direct
consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine and industry. Biodiversity is essential for
the ecological balance and the continuous evolutionary processes. The indirect ecosystem
services provided through biodiversity are photosynthesis, pollination, transpiration, chemical
cycling, nutrient cycling, soil maintenance, climate regulation, air and water system
management, waste treatment and pest control. The diversity is essential for the long-term
sustainability of the environment, continuity of life or earth and the maintenance of its
integrity.