1. Environmental Biotechnology

2. Introduction
Environmental biotechnology is the solving of environmental problems through the application of biotechnology.

3. Why environmental biotechnology?
Because it:
eliminate the hazardous wastes produced by our other technologies.
distinguish between similar species and ensure species are not at risk of extinction.
create alternative energy sources (i.e. Biofuel).

4. Contaminants released into the environment
Solvents
Pesticides
Herbicides
Fungicides
Insecticides
Petrochemicals
Explosives
Heavy metals

5. Pollution prevention
Use biotechnology approach to produce products biologically and environment friendly

6. It includes Modification of bioremediation and degradation
Pulp and paper industry
Chemicals
Use enzymes in detergent
Bioenergy from biomass
Biorefinery

7. 1) Molecular Ecology
Using biological techniques (i.e. DNA fingerprinting) to better understand aspects of nature.
This is done to look at the biodiversity of different populations to ensure they are not at risk of going extinct (cheetahs and polar bears currently).
It can be used to determine if a new species has emerged and also better map the evolutionary development of different families of animals (horses and whales currently).

8. Reading a DNA fingerprint
1) Molecular Ecology
Biofuel exaggeration
Reading a DNA fingerprint

9. Environmental biotechnology is harnessتسخير biological process for commercial uses and exploitation.
BIOACCUMULATION
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREMEDIATION
Biofuels
BIOMETHANATION

10. BIOACCUMULATION BIOACCUMULATION is result of three processes: 1)uptake
Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a toxic substance at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost. Thus, the longer the biological half-life of the substance the greater the risk of chronic poisoning, even if environmental levels of the toxin are not very high. Bioaccumulation, for example in fish, can be predicted by models.Biotransformation can strongly modify bioaccumulation of chemicals in an organism.
BIOACCUMULATION is result of three processes:
1)uptake
2)storage
3)elimination

11. BIODEGRADATION
Biodegradation is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria or other biological means.While biodegradable simply means to be consumed by microorganisms and return to compounds found in nature. The term is often used in relation to ecology, waste management, biomedicine, and the natural environment (bioremediation) and is now commonly associated with environmentally friendly products that are capable of decomposing back into natural elements. Organic material can be degraded aerobically with oxygen, or anaerobically, without oxygen.

12. 2) Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of bacteria (or fungi) to clean up hazardous environmental wastes.
The bacteria essentially turn the dangerous waste products into less hazardous, easy to dispose of, waste.
Plants are also being tested in some areas to do this job (Sunflowers at Chernobyl removed Cesium and Strontium).

14. 4) Biofuels
A biofuel is a plant derived fuel that is deemed more environmentally friendly that current fuel sources as they all release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Ethanol from corn is placed in many gasoline varieties in North America.
Biodiesel is fuel made from used cooking oil.
Biogas is made from gases released by compost or a landfill.

15. BIOMETHANATION
Biomethanation is the formation of methane by microbes known as methanogens. Organisms capable of producing methane have been identified only from the domain Archaea, a group phylogenetically distinct from both eukaryotes and bacteria, although many live in close association with anaerobic bacteria. The production of methane is an important and widespread form of microbial metabolism. In most environments, it is the final step in the decomposition of biomass.

16. Homework
Define the following terms: environmental biotechnology, biofuel, biofuel cell, bioremediation, biosensor