MBBE 431 - Enviormental Biotechnology

• Department: Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering
• Number: BE 431
• Title of Course: Environmental Biotechnology
• Designation: Elective

Course Catalog Description

Environmental impact and control; the microorganism and its nutrition and growth conditions; microbial growth and substrate removal kinetics; bioreactors; biological treatment system; biodegradation of xenobiotic organic chemicals; case studies.

Prerequisites

Consent

Textbook(s) and / or other required material

Textbook: Environmental Biotechnology: Principles and Application, by B.E. Rittman and P.L. McCarty, McGraw-Hill, 2001

Suggested reading materials:

• Biotechnology: an introduction, by Susan Barnum, Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998.
• Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and reuse (4th edition), by Metcalf and Eddy, McGraw – Hill, 2003.
• Handouts

Course Objectives

This course provides the student to be able to utilize the microorganisms to improve our environmental quality, such as preventing water pollution problems, clean-up contaminated soil, water and air, and generate valuable resources for the benefit of human being. The core of knowledge covered in this lecture contains the elements of microbial and biochemical processes and engineering. This will provide a background in unfamiliar areas for persons entering the field of pollution.

Topics Covered

• Microbiology / Biochemistry basics
• Microbial reaction stoichiometry
• Energetics and kinetics
• Biofilm kinetics / application
• Bioreactors
• Suspended culture process kinetics, Modification and Application
• Laboratory study of aerobic mixed suspended culture
• Design and analysis of aerobic suspended culture for biological wastewater treatment
• Anaerobic treatment / application
• Case Study

Grading

Homework - 40%
Midterm Exam - 30%
Final Exam - 30%

Instructors

P.Y. Yang, PhD
Professor and Graduate Chair of Bioengineering
Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Gilmore 105
Email: pingyi@hawaii.edu
Phone: 956-8459, 956-8384
Fax: 956-9269, 956-3542