CEE 210 Environmental Biology for EngineersSouthern Illinois University Carbondale5/5/2010Lecture:Instructor: L.R. Chevalier p. 1CEE 210 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY FOR ENGINEERSLecture: SummaryInstructor: L.R. ChevalierDepartment of Civil and Environmental EngineeringSouthern Illinois University CarbondaleEnvironmental Biology for EngineersEnvironmental Biotechnology Biotechnology has many uses in environmental and civil engineering◦ Assess the health of ecosystems◦ Site remediation and restoration ecology◦ Develop environmentally safe manufacturing and disposal processes◦ Generate biodegradable materials from renewable sources It is not a new field for our discipline◦ Composting◦ Wastewater treatment Basic research and development (R&D) is facilitating the develop of technologies that can potentially lead to commercializationEnvironmental Biology for EngineersInternational Trends in Environmental Biotechnology International cooperation and collaboration is essential◦ Sharing knowledge◦ Access to requisite technologies and genetic resources◦ Establishing new markets for products worldwide◦ Tremendous potential for nations seeking low-cost solutions to environmental problems Municipal waste disposal Conversion of agricultural wastes to energy Clean-up of polluted areasEnvironmental Biology for EngineersBioremediation Polluted areas include land, freshwater, and marine sites  US Law requires clean-up Estimates for the cleanup of federal lands alone is over $450 billion Extent of non-Federal contamination◦ Agriculture◦ Mines◦ Industrial sites◦ Aquifers Estimates of combined clean-up $1.7 trillion  Bioremediation is considered a viable clean-up technologyEnvironmental Biology for EngineersBio-enhanced clean-up of the Exxon Valdez Spill Cleanup of the 1989 EXXON VALDEZ oil spill, which contaminated some 350 miles of shoreline in Prince William Sound, Alaska, has been accelerated through a Federally supported biotechnology demonstration project. Physical cleaning measures such as flooding with water, vacuum extraction, and skimming were employed first, but some oil still coated rocks and other surfaces and remained trapped in and below the matrix of gravel.Environmental Biology for EngineersBio-enhanced clean-up of the Exxon Valdez Spill In the bioremediation project, nitrogen and phosphorus-rich nutrients were applied to shorelines to stimulate the growth of naturally occurring oil-degrading microorganisms.  The results were encouraging.  Laboratory studies and visual observation confirmed that added nutrients enhanced the extent and rate of oil degradation, and oil samples showed changes in hydrocarbon composition that indicated that extensive biodegradation had occurred.CEE 210 Environmental Biology for EngineersSouthern Illinois University Carbondale5/5/2010Lecture:Instructor: L.R. Chevalier p. 2Environmental Biology for EngineersGroundwater remediationGround water with ContaminationClean ground waterMicroorganismsContaminantse.g. nitrates, carbon tetrachlorideEnd products:carbon dioxide, nitrogen, waterEnvironmental Biology for EngineersContaminated zoneIn-Situ Bioremediation schematiccompressorVacuum blowerAir Stripperwater tableVadose zoneSaturated zonesoil surfaceEnvironmental Biology for EngineersWastewater Treatment Wastewater treatment is based on microbes These microbes decompose the organic matter in sewage Lakes and streams are able to assimilate waste, but only to a point. Too much untreated waste or other organic matter will cause oxygen levels to drop too low to support fish and other aquatic life due to biological and chemical oxygen demand  Treatment systems are based on biological processes, but also include physical and chemical processesEnvironmental Biology for EngineersWastewater Treatment Primary treatment◦ Physically remove large solids using grates, screens and settling tanks Secondary treatment◦ Uses bacteria and other microbes to break down organic waste◦ In essence, using the natural capacity of natural systems in an engineered environment◦ Significantly reduces the organic loading remaining after primary treatment Tertiary treatment◦ Focuses on the reduction of phosphorus and nitrogen using both biological and chemical processes Disinfection◦ Kills disease causing organisms (generally through chlorination) Sludge ◦ Collection of solids that are removed during wastewater◦ Additional treatment to decompose organic matter and disease causing organismsEnvironmental Biology for EngineersClass Activity Draw a schematic of a wastewater treatment facility and discuss each of the main unit processesEnvironmental Biology for EngineersReferences Biotechnology for the 21stCenttury: 3. Opportunities in environmental biotechnology USDA National Agricultural Library◦ http://www.nal.usda.gov/bic/bio21/environ.htmlImages Valdez Oil Spill◦ Office of Response and Restoration◦ NOAA’s National Ocean Service◦ http://response.restoration.noaa.govCEE 210 Environmental Biology for EngineersSouthern Illinois University Carbondale5/5/2010Lecture:Instructor: L.R. Chevalier p. 3Environmental Biology for EngineersSources of photographs and images in sidebar Human brain ◦ http://www.healthnak.com/mind/ X-rays images◦ http://martingallerycharleston.com/index.html Cold Virus (altered in Photoshop)◦ http://medphoto.wellcome.ac.uk/About the Instructor Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Diplomat, Water Resources Engineering, American Academy of Water Resources Engineering (AAWRE) Board Certified Environmental Engineer, American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) Licensed Professional Engineer, State of