tailieunhanh - ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY: ACHIEVEMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Most Western societies take clean water for granted. When we turn on the tap, we rarely question the source, its reliability or its quality. Perhaps out of habit, we assume there will always be more. Water is one of our most critical resources – even more important than oil. Water sustains agriculture and, thus, our food chain. Vast quantities of water are used to make the silicon chips that help power our computers and cell phones. Electric power plants depend heavily on water, and account for a staggering 39 percent of freshwater withdrawals in the United States. It could be said. | Dynamic Biochemistry Process Biotechnology and Molecular Biology 2010 Global Science Books Environmental Biotechnology Achievements Opportunities and Challenges Maria Gavrilescu Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection Department of Environmental Engineering and Management 71 Mangeron Blvd. 700050 Iasi Romania Correspondence mgav@ ABSTRACT This paper describes the state-of-the-art and possibilities of environmental biotechnology and reviews its various areas together with their related issues and implications. Considering the number of problems that define and concretize the field of environmental biotechnology the role of some bioprocesses and biosystems for environmental protection control and health based on the utilization of living organisms are analyzed. Environmental remediation pollution prevention detection and monitoring are evaluated considering the achievements as well as the perspectives in the development of biotechnology. Various relevant topics have been chosen to illustrate each of the main areas of environmental biotechnology wastewater treatment soil treatment solid waste treatment and waste gas treatment dealing with both the microbiological and process engineering aspects. The distinct role of environmental biotechnology in the future is emphasized considering the opportunities to contribute with new solutions and directions in remediation of contaminated environments minimizing future waste release and creating pollution prevention alternatives. To take advantage of these opportunities innovative new strategies which advance the use of molecular biological methods and genetic engineering technology are examined. These methods would improve the understanding of existing biological processes in order to increase their efficiency productivity and flexibility. Examples of the development and implementation of such strategies are included. Also the contribution of .