BT503 Handouts by VUBuddy

1.Introduction of Environmental Biotechnology

“The application of science and technology to living organisms, as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services” (OECD, 2002).

There was a time when the biotechnology sector was seen as largely medical or pharmaceutical in nature, particularly amongst the general public…

The agricultural, industrial and environmental applications of biotechnology are potentially enormous

Environmental biotechnology is the branch of biotechnology that addresses environmental problems, such as the removal of pollution, renewable energy generation or biomass production, by exploiting

2.Role & Scope

As compared to other branches of Biotechnology….

Environmental Biotechnology deals with apparently less dramatic topics, though their importance may be every bit as great, and thus their direct relevance is far less appreciated by bulk of the population.

The goals of Environmental Biotechnology are in everybody’s interest…

But for most it is simply addressing a problem that could have avoided already.

The goals of Environmental biotechnology can be achieved in two ways:

enhance or optimise conditions for existing biological systems to make their activities happen faster or more efficiently, OR

Resort to some form of alteration to bring about the desired outcome.

Scope for Use:

Three key points for environmental biotechnology interventions:

1. manufacturing process,
2. waste management,
3. pollution control

3.The Global Environmental Market

Massive growth in global environmental market.

A prediction: the market will have grown to 7400 billion US dollars by 2025.

Driving Factors:

• greater general awareness,
• widespread adoption of sustainable best practice by industry,
• geo-political changes,
• clean manufacturing applications, etc.

Major areas so far:

• energy production,
• waste management,
• land remediation,
• water treatment.

Water treatment accounts for 25% of the total global environmental market. Unbreakable cycle of industrial growth at the cost of environmental damage. The OECD (2001) concluded that the industrial use of biotechnology commonly leads to increasingly environmentally harmonious processes and additionally results in lowered operating and/or capital costs.

4.Modalities and Local Influences (L04)

Effect of local circumstances…

Contextual sensitivity…

Location, modalities, economics, legislation and customs…

Biotech intervention in one region or country, may be totally unsuited to use in another…

These contexts can change…

Economic Pressure…

Legislation…

Integrated Approach

The controlled world of research translates imperfectly into the harsh realities of commercial implementation…

Often a dichotomy between theory and application…

Environmental biotechnology,relies on existing natural cycles, often directly and in an entirely unmodified form…

Modalities and Local Influences

Potential for different biological approaches to be combine…

In some spheres, traditional biology has become rather unfashionable…

The fundamentals of living systems are the stuff of this branch of science…

5.Using Biological Systems

The manipulation of natural cycles lies at the heart of much environmental biotechnology…

Typically centres on adapting existing organisms and their inherent abilities…

Optimization of the activities of particular organisms, or even whole biological communities…

Factors affecting the use of biological systems relate to the nature of the substances needing to be treated and to the localized environmental conditions…

The intended target of the bio-processing must generally be both susceptible and available to biological attack, in aqueous solution, or at least in contact with water, and within a low to medium toxicity range. For land based applications, the soil types best suited to biotechnological interventions are sands and gravels. Moreover, nutrient availability, oxygenation and the presence of other contaminants can all play a role too.

6.Extremophiles

In general the use of biotechnology for environmental management relies on mesophilic microorganisms.

Some microbial species tolerate extreme conditions, like high salinity, pressures and temperatures,

useful for biotech applications requiring tolerance to these conditions

The Archaea

extreme thermophiles, extreme halophiles, methanogens, species that tolerate high levels of ionising radiation, pH, or high pressures…

Extremophiles could provide a way of developing alternative routes to many conventional chemicals or materials…

Much of the interest centres on the extremophile enzymes, the so-called extremozymes. The promise of extremozymes lies in their ability to remain functional when other enzymes cannot. The widespread uptake and integration of biocatalytic systems as industrial production processes in their own right is not without obstacles which need to be overcome.

7.Thermophiles

Thrive at temperatures above 45°C.

Hyperthermophiles… ~85°C.

Thermus aquaticus…

Hot-springs, deep sea-vents, geothermal fluids, etc.

Potential for the industrial exploitation…

Temperatures where other organisms do not survive.

A good understanding of the way in which extremophile molecules are able to function at high temperatures is essential for any future attempt at harnessing the extremozymes for industrial purposes.

In PCR:

DNA Polymerase of Thermus aquaticus (Taq Polymerase), Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu Polymerase).

Clean energy:

bioethanol production, hydrogen production fuel cells, etc.

8.Other Extremophiles

In addition to Thermophiles, many other species survive under equally challenging environmental conditions.

May also have some potential for future methods of reduced pollution.

Cold environments are more common on earth than hot ones…

Average oceanic temperature is around 1–3°C and vast areas of the global land mass are permanently or near-permanently frozen.

Psychrophiles can tolerate these circumstances.

Halophiles… survive intensely saline environments, such as exist in natural salt lakes or salt evaporation ponds.

Normal cells lose water and dehydrate in hypertonic saline environments. Halophiles deal with this problem by ensuring that their cytoplasm contains a higher solute concentration than is present in their surroundings.

Two distinct mechanisms: either manufacture or concentrate large quantities of solutes for themselves.

E.g., a number of halophile species accumulate KCl , and thus their extremozymes work only in the presence of KCl.

Acidophiles thrive in the conditions of low pH, typically below 5.

Protective molecules in their cell walls, membranes or outer cell coatings to exclude acids.

Extremozymes capable of functioning below pH 1 have been isolated…

Alkaliphiles flourish in environments at pH 9 or more such as soda lakes and heavily alkaline soils.

Rely on protective molecules in their surfaces or in their secretions to ensure the external environment is held at bay.

Diverse Degradative Abilities

Toluene degradation, Phenol degradation, Chloromethane degradation, Cellulose degradation, etc.

Novel biopolymers.