49773 - Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnologies (Graduate Course)-B

Learning outcomes

To provide the students with the fundamentals for understanding the nature and roles of indigenous microbial populations in natural and contaminated habitats as well as the microbial and technological aspects related the conduction and optimization of the main environmental biotech processes currently applied in the bioremediation of industrial wastewaters and sites contaminated by xenobiotic compounds.

Course contents

Chemical compounds released into the environment: their classification, source and fate as well as their environment impact.  

Biotransformation of biogenic compounds occurring/released in the environment: anabolic and catabolic pathways.  Cellular bioenergetics.

Biogenic organic matter metabolism in aerobic and anaerobic habitats and environmental  processes.

Aerobic respiration: the two glycolysis pathways, the Krebs cycle and the oxidative phosphorylation. Examples of environmental relevant microorganisms living by respiring aerobically biogenic organic compounds.

Anaerobic metabolism: biochemistry of the nitrate-reduction, Fe(III)-reduction, sulphate-reduction, HCO3? reduction (methanogenesis and acetogenesis) and main features of microorganisms using such anaerobic respiration routes.

Fermentation of carbohydrates and proteins occurring in the environment and features of the main microorganisms responsible for them. Fermentation and anaerobic respiration processes associated to the anaerobic digestion of organic matter.

  

Metabolism of biogenic inorganic compounds in aerobic habitats or treatment processes, such as  nitrification, S° or S= -oxidation, Fe(II) oxidation and industrial microbial leaching and main features of microorganisms responsible for them.  Introduction on the CO2 autotrophic fixation and to the anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthesis.  

Cycles of Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulfur and Iron an their distribution in the environment. 

Sources and fate of main organic and inorganic xenobiotic compounds in contaminated soils, sediments and waters. Microorganisms mainly involved in their biotransformation and detoxification and biochemical-molecular mechanisms responsible for their adaptation to the polluted environment.  Biodegradation pathways for aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated and not, in aerobic and anaerobic polluted environments. Enrichment of pollutant-degrading bacteria from contaminated matrices and cultures characterization. Basis of biotransformation on heavy metals in polluted sites.

Biotechnology for the remediation of contaminated sites: basis and specific microbiological and technological aspects related to bioremediation ex-situ and in situ of soils polluted with organic xenobiotic compounds. Myco-, phyto- and rhizo-remediation: general aspects and perspectives.

Introduction to the main strategies for the remediation of contaminated sediments.

Bioremediation of  industrial wastewater contaminated by xenobiotic compounds: limitation of conventional procedures and tailored approaches under development in this area.

Readings/Bibliography

Madigan M.T. et al. (2000) Brock: Biology of Microorganisms. 9th Edition, Prentice Hall International, Inc., New Jersey, USA 

Rittmann B.E., McCarty P.L. (2001) Environmental Biotechnology: principles and applications. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, New York, USA 

Teaching methods

Lectures in the class (+ optional training activities in the labs)

Assessment methods

Oral exam

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Fava