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2019　Environmental Bioengineering

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Academic unit or major
Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Instructor(s)
Fukui Toshiaki  Tanji Yasunori 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon7-8(H135)  Thr7-8(H135)  
Group
-
Course number
LST.A363
Credits
2
Academic year
2019
Offered quarter
2Q
Syllabus updated
2019/3/20
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

Our modern society is depending on adequate supply of energy, clean and safe water, air, and foods, and essential materials, as well as efficient waste management for preservation of a global environment. Environmental Bioengineering is a branch of biotechnology whose objective is to utilize biological functions for the preservation and remediation of a global environment.

This course covers several biological functions (mainly microbial functions) regarding the following topics: global cycles of major elements; metabolisms of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, and others; biodegradation of wood resources and some environmental pollutants; bioremediation of polluted environments. The course concludes by discussing the conrtibution of the biological functions to establishment of sustainable society, such as production of biofuels and biomaterials from renewable biomass resources.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand material balance and circulation of carbon and water in a global environment
2. Explain metabolisms of nitrogen, phosphorous, and others in water environments and application of them to wasterwater treatment
3. Explain metabolisms of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and volatile compounds in gaseous environments
4. Explain biodegradation of wood resources and some pollutants in soil environments
5. Understand the contribution of the biological functions to establishment of sustainable society, as well as discuss about sustainable development of society

Keywords

Material balance, circulation, wastewater treatment, nitrification, denitrification, methane fermentation, composting, carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation, biodegradation, bioremediation, biomass resources, sustainable society

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills Intercultural skills Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The lecture will proceed along with reviewing of basic knowledge of biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, and genetic engineering, as well as summary of the previous class. When necessary, the points in this class will be given by questioning and students will be asked to answer the questions. It is strongly recommended to read syllabus and the corresponding part in the text before the class.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Structure of Environmental bioengineering: Over view of environmental bioengineering and the structure of the lecture Read the introductory chapter of the textbook. Students must be able to present the history and role of environmental bioengineering
Class 2 Carbon & water circulation in the earth surface: Carbon circulation driven by biological function and water reservoir and circulation in the earth surface Read the chapter 1 of the text and understand the importance of material balance and circulation of carbon and water
Class 3 Nitrogen circulation in the earth surface: Nitrogen circulation driven by biological function in the earth surface Read the chapter 1 of the text and understand the importance of material balance and circulation of nitrogen
Class 4 Index of water quality and wastewater treatment: Definition and measurement of BOD & COD, and their relation to wastewater treatment Read the chapter 2 of the text and understand the definition and measurement of BOD & COD, and explain the relation to waste water treatment
Class 5 Biological function & evaluation in relation to water environment: Anabolism, Catabolism, Co-metabolism, Nitrification, & Denitrification Read the chapter 2 of the text and understand the biological mechanism of Anabolism, Catabolism, Co-metabolism, Nitrification, & Denitrification, and explain the relation to waste water treatment
Class 6 Biological treatment under aerobic condition: Mechanism, process, and characterization of activated sludge system Read the chapter 2 of the text and explain the biological mechanism of activated sludge method, process and its characterization
Class 7 Biological treatment under anaerobic condition: Mechanism and process of biological dephosphorylation & methane fermentation Read the chapter 2 of the text and explain the biological mechanism of dephosphorylation & methane fermentation
Class 8 Review of the first half of the course (classes 1–7) and midterm exam. Revise what was taught during classes 1-7 to prepare for the exam.
Class 9 Biological functions in gaseous environments: Metabolisms of carbon and energy Read the chapter 3 of the text and explain autotrophic CO2 fixation and photosynthesis, heterotrophic CO2 emission, and the related energy metabolisms
Class 10 Biological functions in gaseous environments: Nitrogen fixation and metabolisms of volatile compounds Read the chapter 3 of the text and explain nitrogen fixation and metabolisms of volatile compounds
Class 11 Biological functions in soil environments: Biodegradation of wood resources Read the chapter 4 of the text and explain biodegradation of polysaccharides and lignin derived from wood resources
Class 12 Biological functions in soil environments: Bbiodegradable plastics & Compost Read the chapter 4 of the text and explain biodegradable plastics and compost
Class 13 Biological functions for bioremediation: Biodegradation of environmental pollutants Read the chapter 5 of the text and explain biodegradation of environmental pollutants
Class 14 Biological functions for bioremediation: Concept and practice of bioremediation Read the chapter 5 of the text and explain the concept and practice of bioremediation
Class 15 Contribution of biological functions to establishment of sustainable society Read the chapter 6 of the text and explain sustainable society using biomass resources

Textbook(s)

Kankyo Seibutsukougaku (Koudansha Scientific, Unno et al.,) ISBN 4-06-139806-7

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Handouts will be distributed at the beginning of class when necessary and elaborated on using PowerPoint slides. PowerPoint documents that are to be used in class will be made available in advance via the OCW system. Students are expected to use these documents for preparation and review purposes.

Assessment criteria and methods

Midterm exam: 50%, Final term exam: 50%

Related courses

  • LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
  • LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
  • LST.A345 ： Microbiology
  • LST.A336 ： Genetic Engineering

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Request knowledge equivalent to: Biochemistry I (A203), Biochemistry II (A218), or have equivalent knowledge.

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