Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Environmental Biotechnology
Module Code	BE332
School	School of Biotechnology
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Brid Quilty Semester 2: Brid Quilty Autumn: Brid Quilty
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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 topical issues in environmental science through group work involving oral and written presentations
4. Discuss the environmental feasibility of agrofuels
5. Choose the optimal method for bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater
6. Analyse pros and cons of microbial fuel cells for bioenergy production
7. Discuss topical environmental biotechnological applications in a class-wide presentation

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	30	No Description
Independent learning time	95	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%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Presentation	n/a	25%	Week 4
Presentation	n/a	25%	Week 8

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 2

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

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

ESH

BSc Environmental Science & Health

HMSAO

Study Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)

SHSA

Study Abroad (Science & Health)

SHSAO

Study Abroad (Science & Health)