Biotechnology on pollution control

Biotechnology on pollution control

Biotechnology compromise of integrated application of theoretical and practical knowledge of biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, genetics and chemical engineering to exploit the properties of microbes and cultures for various beneficial technological uses. Environmental biotechnology is a very broad field which includes environmental monitoring and safety, waste treatment recovery, restoration of environment quality. Substitution of non-renewable resource-base with renewable resources, research and development of various processes for the benefit of mankind with due regard to socio-economic legal and environment safety consideration.

Important applications of biotechnology in pollution control and waste management include
A. Improvement of existing processes
Example: uses of bio-science and biochemical engineering to obtain knowledge about applicaton of mixed cultures such as-
• Improvement in sewage treatment
• Use of starter cultures for tratement processes
• Used in immobilized microbial cells in waste water treatment.


B. Treatment of toxic wastes using genetically improved organism:

Example: Genes which can bring about degradation of toxic environmental pollution(Such as toluene, chloro-organics etc.) have indentified. For degradation of toxic chemials, enzymes are encloded by specific gene present in plasmid. Such as-
• OCT plasmid degrades oxane, hexane and decame.
• XYL plasmid degrades xylenes & toluenes.
• CAM plasmid decompose camphor.
• NAH plasmid degrades naphthalene.

C. Recoveryly of useful product from waste material.

Example: Recovery of methane, metals etc. from waste material.


D. Development of new catalysts, new bioreactors, novel biosensors and automation of waste water treatment process.
Example
• Use of immobilized organisms and heavy metals as new catalyst and bioreactors.
• Use of trace of toxic organic as new sensor.
• Design of cadmium binding synthetic adsorbent.