Bioremediation

Biotechnology and the Environment  Environment – describes everything that surrounds a particular organism Other organisms Soil, air, water Temperature, humidity, radiation

Biotechnology and the Environment  Environmental Biotechnology - the development, use and regulation of biological systems for remediation of contaminated environments and for environment-friendly processes.  Biodegradation - the use of living organisms to break down chemical compounds  Bioremediation - the use of microorganisms to remedy environmental problems

 What are the events that triggered the interest in environmental biotechnology? Rachel Carlson’s Silent Spring (DDT) Love Canal Burning of a River Exxon Valdez in 1989 Biotechnology and the Environment

The Gulf (BP) Oil Spill

The Gulf (BP) Oil Spill 2010 zThe explosion of the Deepwater Horizon was tragic, and experts estimate that the massive spill will cost billions to clean up. zNumber 1 largest accidental oil spill in history. zNumber 1 largest environmental disaster in U.S. history. z200 million gallons of oil was released into the Gulf of Mexico. z11 people were killed in the explosion. zOil flowed into the Gulf for 87 days straight. zThe spill covers more than 4,000 square miles of ocean surface, over ten times the area of New York City. Read more:

 Waste Solid: landfills, combustion-including waste-to energy plants, recovery slurries, composting Liquid: septic: sewage treatment, deep-well injection Gas: fossil fuels, chlorofluorocarbons Hazardous –anything that can explode, catch fire, release toxic fumes, and particles or cause corrosion Biotechnology and the Environment

Garbage Test  Banana Peel  Wood Scrap/Sawdust  Wax Paper  Styrofoam Cup  Tin Can  Aluminum Soda Can  Plastic Carton  Glass Bottles  0.5 Years  4 Years  5 Years  20 Years  100 Years  500 Years  >500 Years Biotechnology and the Environment

There is no waste in Nature:  From rocks and soil to plants and animals to air and water and back again: Recycled largely by Microbes

Biogeochemical Cycles are a major part of the recycling process  Carbon Cycle: The primary biogeochemical cycle organic compounds  CO 2 and back Carbon Cycle  Nitrogen Cycle: proteins  amino acids  NH 3  NO 2 -  NO 3 -  NO 2 -  N 2 O  N 2  NH 3 etc _ Nitrogen Cycle  Sulfur Cycle: Just like the nitrogen cycle, numerous oxidation states Sulfur Cycle  Phosphorous Cycle: Doesn’t cycle between numerous oxidation states only soluble and insoluble form Phosphorous Cycle

 Bioremediation finds its place Companies begin to specialize in cleaning up toxic waste spills by using a mixture of bacteria and fungi because cleaning these spills usually requires the combined efforts of several strains. Biotechnologists begin engineering “super bugs” to clean up wastes. However, there are many microorganisms in nature that will degrade waste products. Biotechnology and the Environment

Bioremediation Basics  Naturally occurring marshes and wetlands have been doing the job!  What Needs to be Cleaned UP? Everything! SO How bioremediation is used depends on 1)what is contaminated? (locations) 2)on the types of chemicals that need to be cleaned up 3)the concentration of the contaminants (amount and duration)

 How do pollutants enter the environment? Sewage - by products of medicines and food we eat such as estrogen (birth control pills) and caffeine (coffee) Products around the house (perfumes, fertilizers, pesticides, medicines) Industrial – leaching into groundwater Agricultural - pesticides Bioremediation Basics

 Stimulating Bioremediation Add fertilizers (nutrient enrichment) to stimulate the growth of indigenous microorganisms Adding bacteria or fungus to assist indigenous microbes is known as bioaugumentation or seeding Bioremediation Basics

 Phytoremediation Utilizing plants to clean up chemicals Ex: cottonwoods, poplar, juniper trees, grasses, alfalfa Low cost, low maintenance and it adds beauty to the site Bioremediation Basics

Cleanup Sites and Strategies  Do the chemicals pose a fire or explosive hazard?  Do the chemicals pose a threat to human health including the health of clean-up workers? (what happened at Chernobyl to the workers?)  Was the chemical released into the environment through a single incident or was there long-term leakage from a storage container?  Where did the contamination occur?  Is the contaminated area at the surface of the soil? Below ground? Does it affect water?  How large is the contaminated area?

Cleanup Sites and Strategies  Soil Cleanup Either remove it (ex situ bioremediation) or in situ (in place) In place: If aerobic may require bioventing Most effective in sandy soils Removed: Slurry-phase, solid phase, composting, landfarming, biopiles

Cleanup Sites and Strategies  Turning Wastes into Energy Biogas-a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen Video describing potential for biogas production from animal manure

Cleanup Sites and Strategies  Turning Wastes into Energy Cowpower: Compare 3.0 kwh of “cow power” available in one cow’s daily manure contribution with the 2.4 kwh necessary to burn a 100 w light bulb for a day

 Biodegradation Wastewater treatment plants, organic farming  Bioremediation Environmental clean-up companies, labs developing super bugs  Biocatalysis Plastics, degradable and recyclable products  Other Mining companies, oil companies Careers in Environmental Biotech