Environmental Biotechnology - ISEB4 (Paperback)

Environmental biotechnology is set for an increasingly prominent role in tackling ecological problems. Not only can it help to minimise the pollutant loads released into the environment but it may also help to boost the local carrying capacity of ecosystems in a holistic and ethically sound way. These concepts were addressed at the ISEB-4 symposium, which brought together scientists approaching environmental biotechnology from different basic disciplines along with technologists and regulators dealing with environmental quality. This issue contains selected papers from the symposium. Sections cover: biodegradation and bioconversion; microbial community structure; nitrogen and phosphorus removal; sensors, modelling and control; integrated treatment concepts; air treatment; flocs and granules; and sulphur and metals. Some papers deal with fundamental processes, others are technologically orientated. These techniques may be the building blocks for a new generation of environmental biotechnological applications, i.e. clean production processes, and closed water and resource cycles. All together, this issue gives a clear overview of the current state of the art of environmental biotechnology. It also illustrates the big role environmental biotechnology will play in future sustainable development of both the developed and developing countries.