Environmental biotechnology and cleaner bioprocesses

As we enter a new millennium, the environmental issues faced by both developing and industrialised nations are as pressing as ever. Environmental biotechnologies are increasingly being viewed as a major weapon against environmental damage. Cleaner production is part of this strategy and yet there is still widespread ignorance about this emerging technology. Environmental Biotechnology and Cleaner Bioprocesses provides this information at various levels, from introductory to advanced. The first section covers the development of cleaner bioprocesses within the framework of sustainable development. Aspects of environmental policy for small and medium businesses are then discussed using case studies to illustrate principles. The second section covers the recycling and treatment of organic waste, including the use of aquatic plants and microalgae for wastewater treatment and recovery of nutrients. Section three covers bioremediation technologies and finally, section four is dedicated to emerging cleaner bioprocesses and environmentally sound products. All chapters have been written and edited by leading authorities in the field. Students and professionals interested in environmental biotechnology and cleaner production will find the background information and detail they require in this one convenient source.

Author Notes

Sanchez\, Gloria; Hernandez\, Elizabeth

Eugenia J. OlguinVictor L. UrquidiDennis EngiOscar A. Grageda and Fernando Esparza-Garcia and Juan J. Pena-CabrialesEmir J. Macari and Carlos H. Ortiz-GomezJianxi Zhao and Donald L. Wise and Edgar B. Gutoff and Joseph D. Gresser and Yiannis A. LevendisHuub J. Gijzen and Siemen VeenstraKuppusamy Ilangovan and Josefina Linerio and Roberto Briones and Adalberto NoyolaCarlos Garbisu and Itziar Alkorta and Maria J. Llama and Juan L. SerraA.J. Biddlestone and K.R. GrayAlicia Blanco and Miguel Angel Sampedro and Begona Sanz and Maria J. Llama and Juan L. SerraSusana SavalMariano Gutierrez-RojasMaria Trejo and Rodolfo QuinteroRafael Vazquez-DuhaltJuan M. Lema and M. Teresa Moreira and Carolyn Palma and Gumersindo FeijooEugenia J. OlguinHorst W. Doelle and Aran Hanpongkittikun and Poonsuk PrasertsanAgustin Lopez-MunguiaArgelia Lorence and Rodolfo QuinteroReynold R. Farrera and Mayra de la TorreRichard T. Tawamba and R. Gurajena and Christopher J. Chetsanga

Contributors	p. xiii
Foreword	p. xvii
Preface	p. xix
Part 1 General Aspects and Case Studies
1 Cleaner Bioprocesses and Sustainable Development	p. 3
1.1 Introduction	p. 3
1.2 Cleaner Bioprocesses	p. 4
1.3 The Five R Policies	p. 7
1.4 The Growth in Demand for Environmental Biotechnologies and Cleaner Processes	p. 9
1.5 International Standards and Competitiveness as Promoters of Cleaner Processes	p. 11
1.6 Research and Technological Organizations as Promoters of Clean Production Schemes	p. 15
References	p. 16
2 Environmental Policy for Small and Medium Enterprises	p. 19
2.1 The Current Situation on Sustainable Development	p. 19
2.2 The Situation in Mexico	p. 20
2.3 Industrial Pollution	p. 22
2.4 A Policy of Economic Incentives	p. 23
2.5 Economic Incentives in Mexico	p. 24
2.6 Some Conclusions	p. 26
References	p. 27
3 The Vital Issues Process: Managing Critical Infrastructures in the Global Arena	p. 29
3.1 Introduction	p. 29
3.2 Approach	p. 30
3.3 Stakeholder Panellists	p. 32
3.4 Panel Session Format	p. 34
3.5 Pairwise Comparison Results/Data Presentation	p. 37
3.6 The Puerto Rico Water Resources Management Initiative	p. 39
3.7 Concluding Remarks	p. 43
References	p. 44
4 Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizers in the 'Bajio' Region of Guanajuato State, Mexico	p. 45
4.1 Introduction	p. 45
4.2 Materials and Methods	p. 47
4.3 Results and Discussion	p. 48
4.4 Conclusion	p. 53
References	p. 53
5 Impermeable Barrier Liners in Containment Type Landfills	p. 55
5.1 Introduction	p. 55
5.2 Compacted Clay Liners	p. 56
5.3 Amended Soil Liners	p. 57
5.4 Synthetic or Composite Liners	p. 57
5.5 Factors Relevant to all Types of Liners	p. 59
5.6 Permeability Testing	p. 59
5.7 Conclusion	p. 60
References	p. 61
6 Control of Submicron Air Toxin Particles after Coal Combustion Utilizing Calcium Magnesium Acetate	p. 63
6.1 Introduction	p. 63
6.2 Background	p. 64
6.3 Materials and Methods	p. 69
6.4 Results and Discussion	p. 71
6.5 Conclusions and Recommendations	p. 75
References	p. 79
Part 2 Recycling and Treatment of Organic Wastes
7 Duckweed-Based Wastewater Treatment for Rational Resource Recovery and Reuse	p. 83
7.1 Introduction	p. 83
7.2 Characteristics of Duckweeds	p. 85
7.3 Duckweed and Domestic Wastewater Treatment	p. 86
7.4 Integrated Concepts	p. 91
7.5 Conclusions	p. 96
References	p. 97
8 Anaerobic Treatment of Tequila Vinasse	p. 101
8.1 Introduction	p. 101
8.2 Materials and Methods	p. 101
8.3 Results and Discussion	p. 103
Acknowledgements	p. 106
References	p. 106
9 Immobilization of Living Microalgae and their Use for Inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal from Water	p. 107
9.1 Introduction	p. 107
9.2 Microalgae and Cyanobacteria	p. 108
9.3 Biological Wastewater Treatment	p. 108
9.4 Utilization of Inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphorus by Cyanobacteria	p. 109
9.5 Immobilization Techniques	p. 110
9.6 Concluding Remarks	p. 117
Acknowledgements	p. 118
References	p. 118
10 Engineered Reed Bed Systems for the Treatment of Dirty Waters	p. 123
10.1 Introduction	p. 123
10.2 Basis of Treatment	p. 124
10.3 Horizontal Flow Beds	p. 126
10.4 Downflow Beds	p. 128
10.5 Overland Flow Beds	p. 129
10.6 Sludge Treatment Beds	p. 130
10.7 Application of Reed Bed Systems	p. 130
10.8 Conclusions	p. 131
References	p. 131
Part 3 Removal of Recalcitrant Compounds
11 Immobilization of Non-viable Cyanobacteria and their use for Heavy Metal Adsorption from Water	p. 135
11.1 Introduction	p. 135
11.2 Microbial Mechanisms for Removal of Metal Ions	p. 136
11.3 Biomass Immobilization	p. 142
11.4 Reactors for the Treatment of Metal-containing Effluents	p. 145
11.5 Metal Biosorption by Immobilized Biomass	p. 145
11.6 Conclusion	p. 151
Acknowledgements	p. 151
References	p. 151
12 Bioremediation: Clean-up Biotechnologies for Soils and Aquifers	p. 155
12.1 Introduction	p. 155
12.2 The Soil: Where Contaminants and Microorganisms Meet	p. 155
12.3 Microorganism Survival in Adverse Conditions	p. 156
12.4 Advantages of Bioremediation	p. 159
12.5 Knowing the Contaminated Site	p. 159
12.6 Suitability of the Site for Biotreatability Tests	p. 160
12.7 From Laboratory to Field	p. 161
12.8 Bioremediation Monitoring in the Field	p. 164
12.9 Bioremediation as a Clean Technology	p. 164
12.10 Management Technology Needs	p. 165
References	p. 166
13 Increasing Bioavailability of Recalcitrant Molecules in Contaminated Soils	p. 167
13.1 Introduction	p. 167
13.2 Soil Bioremediation: An Emerging Technology	p. 168
13.3 Bioavailability Constraints	p. 169
13.4 General Strategies to Increase Bioavailability	p. 171
13.5 Addition of Synthetic Surfactants	p. 172
13.6 Increasing Bioavailability: General Recommendations	p. 174
13.7 Conclusions	p. 175
Acknowledgements	p. 175
References	p. 175
14 Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils	p. 179
14.1 Introduction	p. 179
14.2 Current Market for Bioremediation	p. 180
14.3 Bioremediation Systems	p. 180
14.4 Concluding Remarks	p. 188
References	p. 188
15 Environmental Oil Biocatalysis	p. 191
15.1 Introduction	p. 191
15.2 Pathways in Hydrocarbon Degradation	p. 192
15.3 Genetics of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation	p. 197
15.4 Mechanisms of Genetic Adaptation	p. 200
15.5 Final Remarks	p. 202
References	p. 203
Part 4 Cleaner Bioprocesses
16 Clean Biological Bleaching Processes in the Pulp and Paper Industry	p. 211
16.1 Introduction	p. 211
16.2 New Bleaching Processes	p. 214
16.3 Enzymatic Bleaching	p. 216
16.4 Production of Manganese-Dependent Peroxidase	p. 220
16.5 Future Perspectives	p. 221
Acknowledgements	p. 222
References	p. 222
17 The Cleaner Production Strategy Applied to Animal Production	p. 227
17.1 Introduction	p. 227
17.2 Cleaner Pig Production Units	p. 231
17.3 Integrated System for Recycling Pig Wastewater, and Recovering Biogas, Spirulina and Lemna and Biomass (Biospirulinema System)	p. 233
17.4 Final Remarks	p. 239
References	p. 241
18 Clean Technologies through Microbial Processes for Economic Benefits and Sustainability	p. 245
18.1 Introduction	p. 245
18.2 The Sugarcane and Sugar Processing Industry	p. 245
18.3 The Palm Oil Industry	p. 249
18.4 The Seafood Processing Industry	p. 254
18.5 Concluding Remarks	p. 259
References	p. 259
19 Cleaner Biotechnologies and the Oil Agroindustry	p. 265
19.1 Technology and Raw Materials	p. 265
19.2 The Market	p. 266
19.3 Structure and Application of Fats and Oils	p. 267
19.4 Fat and Oil Biotechnology	p. 267
19.5 The Coconut Industry: A Case Study	p. 270
19.6 Fat Substitutes	p. 271
19.7 Conclusions	p. 271
References	p. 273
20 In Search of Novel and Better Bioinsecticides	p. 275
20.1 Introduction	p. 275
20.2 Bioinsecticides based on Bt	p. 277
20.3 Mode of Action of Bt [delta]-Endotoxins	p. 278
20.4 Structure and Function of [delta]-Endotoxins	p. 279
20.5 Transgenic Plants Resistant to Insects	p. 281
20.6 Novel Systems using Bt	p. 282
20.7 Concluding Remarks	p. 283
References	p. 283
21 Bacillus thuringiensis: Relationship Between cry Gene Expression and Process Conditions	p. 285
21.1 Introduction	p. 285
21.2 Mode of Action and Specificity of Bt [Delta]-Endotoxins	p. 285
21.3 Molecular Biology of Bt	p. 286
21.4 Production of Bt	p. 288
21.5 Conclusions	p. 295
References	p. 295
22 Cleaner Production Activities in Zimbabwe	p. 299
22.1 Background	p. 299
22.2 Project Inputs	p. 300
22.3 Institutional Arrangement	p. 300
22.4 Demonstration Projects	p. 301
22.5 Information Dissemination	p. 303
22.6 Cleaner Production Manual	p. 304
22.7 Barriers Encountered During Demonstration Projects	p. 304
22.8 Conclusions	p. 305
References	p. 305
Appendix A Sample Calculation	p. 307
Index	p. 309

Available:*

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents