Module: Environmental Biotechnology

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Environmental Biotechnology
Module Code	BE332 (ITS) / BTE1012 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Biotechnology
Module Co-ordinator	Yandi Lan
Module Teachers	Denise Harold, Linda Holland, Paul Cahill
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None
Array

Description

To introduce the students to waste streams, treatment and innovative environmental biotechnologies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the biological methods for wastewater treatment
2. Give examples of the microorganisms role in pollution control
3. Discuss the environmental feasibility of agrofuels
4. Compare methods for bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater
5. Analyse pros and cons of microbial fuel cells for bioenergy production
6. Discuss topical issues in environmental science through individual and group work involving oral and written presentations

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	101	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Biological treatment of waste streams:
Air and gaseous waste streams; Water and wastewater; Composting; Landfill

Bioremediation
Fundamental mechanisms of bioremediation; bioimmobilization of metals in groundwater and soils; bioremediation in the field

Agrofuels
bioethanol, fuel from lignocellulosic biomass, environmental feasibility of agrofuels; the biorefinery concept

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)
Mechanisms of extracellular electron transfer; Bioelectricity production; application to wastewater treatment;

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
In Class Test	n/a	35%	Week 5
In Class Test	n/a	35%	Week 10
Group assignment	n/a	30%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

R.M. Atlas, R. Bartha: 1998, Microbial ecology : fundamentals and applications, 4th, Benjamin/Cummings, Menlo Park, Calif., 0805306552
W.P. Cunningham, M. A. Cunningham, B. W. Saigo: 2005, Environmental science : a global concern, 8th, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, New York, 0072439564
B.E. Logan: 2008, Microbial fuel cells, Wiley-Interscience, Hoboken, N.J, 0470239484
M.T. Madigan, J. M. Martinko, T.D. Brock: 2006, Brock Biology of microorganisms, 11th, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 0131968939
L. Olsson: 2007, Biofuels, Springer, Berlin, 9783540736509
B.E. Rittmann and P.L. McCarty: 2001, Environmental Biotechnology - Principles and application, McGraw-Hill International, Boston, 0071181849

Other Resources

None