Module: Environmental Biotechnology

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Environmental Biotechnology
Module Code	BTE1012 (ITS: BE332)
Faculty	Biotechnology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

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

Section Breakdown
CRN	10150	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Arul Manikandan	Module Teacher	Denise Harold, Linda Holland, Paul Cahill, Yandi Lan

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment 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; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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;

Indicative Reading List

Books:

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

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None