EIACP Centre on Environmental Biotechnology

Archive:

New device harnesses sun and sewage to produce hydrogen fuel
October 10, 2013

A novel device that uses only sunlight and wastewater to produce hydrogen gas could provide a sustainable energy source while improving the efficiency of wastewater treatment.
A research team led by Yat Li, associate professor of chemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz, developed the solar-microbial device and reported their results in a paper published in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Nano. The hybrid device combines a microbial fuel cell (MFC) and a type of solar cell called a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC). In the MFC component, bacteria degrade organic matter in the wastewater, generating electricity in the process. The biologically generated electricity is delivered to the PEC component to assist the solar-powered splitting of water (electrolysis) that generates hydrogen and oxygen.
The researchers also noted that hydrogen generation declined over time as the bacteria used up the organic matter in the wastewater. Replenishment of the wastewater in each feeding cycle led to complete restoration of electric current generation and hydrogen gas production.

The researchers also noted that hydrogen generation declined over time as the bacteria used up the organic matter in the wastewater. Replenishment of the wastewater in each feeding cycle led to complete restoration of electric current generation and hydrogen gas production.

Search for better biofuels microbes leads to human gut
Date: September 23, 2014

Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Summary: Scientists have scoured cow rumens and termite guts for microbes that can efficiently break down plant cell walls for the production of next-generation biofuels, but some of the best microbial candidates actually may reside in the human lower intestine, researchers report.

http://www.scienceinafrica.com/biotechnology/energy/microbial-fuel-cell-use-bioremediation-and-harvesting-energy-waste

How to convert landfill gas into clean energy
August 2014
Researchers in Brazil have come up with a new technique that turns air-polluting landfill gas into a fuel cell to produce a clean, efficient form of energy.
So now energy companies are working on developing hydrogen fuel cells for powering cars and buildings, and the source of hydrogen they're looking at is the by-product that comes from reacting methane gas with carbon dioxide. Which suddenly makes gas-emitting rubbish dumps a very attractive prospect. "Smelly landfills are excellent sources of these gases". Microbes living in the waste produce large amounts of methane and carbon dioxide as by-products.
The researchers say they’re still working on the reaction in the lab, but their new, highly stable catalyst would be ideal for the commercial market.

Source: Phys.org

Cleanliness Drive in Campus
University of Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal

Honorable Vice-chancellor , Prof. Rattan Lal Hangloo has already  initiated our University campus cleanliness drive for past couple of months involving national service Scheme of the University and all section of stakeholders of the University premises.  

Prof. Hangloo is also the Head of ENVIS Centre on Environmental Biotechnology.  Our slogan is “Cleanliness is holiness”.

The Current Biotech News

How to convert landfill gas into clean energy
August 14, 2014

Researchers in Brazil have come up with a new technique that turns air-polluting landfill gas into a fuel cell to produce a clean, efficient form of energy.
So now energy companies are working on developing hydrogen fuel cells for powering cars and buildings, and the source of hydrogen they're looking at is the by-product that comes from reacting methane gas with carbon dioxide. Which suddenly makes gas-emitting rubbish dumps a very attractive prospect. "Smelly landfills are excellent sources of these gases". Microbes living in the waste produce large amounts of methane and carbon dioxide as by-products.
The researchers say they’re still working on the reaction in the lab, but their new, highly stable catalyst would be ideal for the commercial market.

Source: Phys.org
http://sciencealert.com.au/news/20141408-26017.html

A UK grocery store chain is feeding food waste to microbes to generate enough power to run 2,500 homes for a year

July 24, 2014

Food waste and loss is a significant problem throughout the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Europe, North America and Oceania alone there is a yearly per capita food loss of between 280 and 300 kilograms.
But not everything needs to go to waste. Damaged crops, supermarket products past their ‘best before’ date, as well as scraps from restaurants and hotels, can be used to produce energy.  When microbes digest food, they release methane, a gas that can be used to produce energy. So by placing food waste in big silos, which are oxygen-free, microbes can produce bio-methane that can then be used to generate electricity.

Source: Smithsonian and Popular Science
http://www.sciencealert.com/news/20142407-25914.html

A UK grocery store chain is feeding food waste to microbes to generate enough power to run 2,500 homes for a year
24 July 2014

Food waste and loss is a significant problem throughout the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Europe, North America and Oceania alone there is a yearly per capita food loss of between 280 and 300 kilograms.
But not everything needs to go to waste. Damaged crops, supermarket products past their ‘best before’ date, as well as scraps from restaurants and hotels, can be used to produce energy.  When microbes digest food, they release methane, a gas that can be used to produce energy. So by placing food waste in big silos, which are oxygen-free, microbes can produce bio-methane that can then be used to generate electricity.

Source: http://sciencealert.com.au/news/20141408-26017.html

Microbes engineered for the direct conversion of biomass to ethanol fuel
Jun 02, 2014

The promise of affordable transportation fuels from biomass—a sustainable, carbon neutral route to American energy independence—has been left perpetually on hold by the economics of the conversion process. New research from the University of Georgia has overcome this hurdle allowing the direct conversion of switch grass to fuel.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, documents the direct conversion of biomass to biofuel without pre-treatment, using the engineered bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor bescii.
Pre-treatment of the biomass feedstock—non-food crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus—is the step of breaking down plant cell walls before fermentation into ethanol. This pre-treatment step has long been the economic bottleneck hindering fuel production from lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks.

http://phys.org/news/2014-06-microbes-conversion-biomass-ethanol-fuel.html#jCp

May 19, 2014

New research has taken a step toward employing genes from blue-green algae to improve staple crop photosynthesis – a potential improvement that could boost plant efficiency and increase yields. Scientists at Cornell and the U.K.'s Rothamsted Research report using genes from blue-green algae – called cyanobacteria – to create micro-compartments inside photosynthesizing plant cells, an important breakthrough for improving photosynthesis.
The study was published online May 8 in The Plant Journal.

http://phys.org/news/2014-05-algal-genes-boost-efficiency-yield.html

Microalgae capable of assimilating the NH3 resulting from the management of agrifood waste
May 29, 2014
The Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Neiker-Tecnalia, the public body that reports to the Sub-Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Policy of the Government of the Basque Autonomous Community, has confirmed the capacity of Chlamydomonas acidophila microalgae to absorb ammoniacal nitrogen present in the effluent generated in the digestion of organic waste coming from the agri-food sector. These algae can grow in these liquids and assimilate the ammonium, which prevents this gas from being volatilised in the form of ammonia (NH3) and contaminating the atmosphere. Furthermore, the microalgae biomass obtained in this procedure can be used as a raw material for producing biogas or used as animal feed, compost or fertilizer besides being an extraordinary source of lutein, a powerful antioxidant used as a food supplement.

Source: http://phys.org/news/2014-05-microalgae-capable-assimilating-nh3-resulting.html#jCp

Going green with algae
May 30, 2014

Once known only as the slimy scourge of backyard ponds and lakes, algae is emerging as a superhero in the race for cleaner and renewable energy resources. But this hero is not without its Achilles' heel: Although its proliferation across water bodies might make it appear invincible, algae is actually fragile – vulnerable to fluctuations in weather and temperature – limiting commercial growers and researchers alike in their selection of growing systems and locations.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2014-05-green-algae.html#jCp

Scientists firm up origin of cold-adapted yeasts that make cold beer

April 9, 2014

Patagonian galls such as these harbor the cold-adapted yeast Saccharomyces eubayanus, a parent of the hybrid yeast used to make lager or cold-brewed beer. A field survey has confirmed that the parent yeast S. eubayanus, which somehow made its way to Bavaria 500 or so years ago, is easily isolated in Patagonia. A Wisconsin team recently isolated the yeast, although at low frequency, near Sheboygan, Wis. -- the first time it has been found in nature in North America. Credit: Diego Libkind, Institute for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Bariloche, Argentina

http://phys.org/news/2014-04-scientists-firm-cold-adapted-yeasts-cold.html

A new approach to detecting changes in GM foods

Apr 03, 2014

This comparison of the “metabolome” of a genetically modified (GM) tomato and those of a wide assortment of garden, heirloom, and other non-GM varieties found no significant differences overall between the GM and non-GM fruit.

http://phys.org/news/2014-04-approach-gm-foods.html

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY - ACTIVITY IN INDIA:

1. Main thrust of activities
Realising the tremendous potential of biotechnology to offer unique, efficient, ecofriendly and economically viable options for waste treatment in situ and degradation of hazardous toxic waste into relatively less harmful or harmless byproducts, the Department of Biotechnology has given a major thrust to programmes for ecorestoration of degraded ecosystems, mining spoil dumps, development of biosensors for detection of pollutants , treatment of industrial effluents, use of molecular markers for characterisation of biodiversity. The programme has been conceived and steered by distinguished scientists who chaired the task force on Environmental Biotechnology and Biodiversity Conservation over the last several years - Late Prof. T. N. Khoshoo, Prof. P. Khanna, Prof. Madhav Gadgil and Prof. Raghavendra Gadagkar comprising eminent scientists in the field. In addition to the distinguished members of the task force, inputs from a large number of scientists and experts from user industry are also obtained.

2. Achievements

During the period of review, 65 projects were sanctioned. 45 projects have been completed and 50 are ongoing. The major areas supported include industrial effluent treatment particularly dye industry, paper and pulp industry, distillery , tannery, electroplating, oil refineries etc., use of isozymes and molecular markers such as RAPD, RFLP for characterisation of biodiversity, ecorestoration of degraded lands and mine spoil dumps.
The Department has made concerted efforts to develop network programmes based on the need of users. Attempts are being made to convert research leads from ongoing and completed projects into technologies and demonstrate these at the site of user industries. Emphasis is being laid on involvement of user industry from the beginning so that the process can be validated on site resulting in smooth transfer of technology. Technologies standardised at lab scale are being upscaled and transferred to the industry for large scale exploitation. Efforts are made to identify priority areas and a no. of brain storming sessions were convened to formulate integrated R&D proposals in gap areas. Details of brain storming sessions held are given below:

The major achievements during this period are:

(a) Network programmes on pesticide degradation

Three network programmes on degradation of chloro and nitro pesticides in contaminated soils and stocks of banned pesticides involving 4 research institutions each have been supported. Programmes cover isolation and characterisation of microorganisms capable of degrading DDT and its residues, development of suitable probes for tracking the organisms used for remediation of contaminated sites and development of bench scale reactor for biological treatment of pesticide waste and date expired pesticides.

(b) Programmes for conservation and use of lower plants as indicators of pollution

Five projects on biosystematics and conservation studies of liverworts, genetic diversity of ferns, lichens and their use as indicators of pollution have been supported.

(c) Programmes on molecular biology for environmental amelioration

Six projects on characterisation and molecular analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbon degrading pathways, genetic engineering for improved heavy metal tolerance, cloning and characterization of metal resistant genes have been supported.

(d) Industrial Effluent Treatment

3. Microbial Treatment of Cassava Starch Factory Waste Water

Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram has standardized technology for degradation of starch factory waste water. Three microbial isolates from cassava processing wastewaters which were found to reduce cyanide by 81-84%, 50-59% and 71-83% respectively during an incubation period of 24-96 hours were successfully immobilized on various supports. The wastewater from cassava starch factories when treated anaerobically generated biogas at various stages of hydraulic retention time (HRT). The gas produced was in a range of 26 litres and 17 litres during HRT from 20 days to 1 day when the feed volume of waste water was increased from 20% to 100% and the volume of fresh cowdung slurry was reduced from 40% to nil. The anaerobically treated waste water was further aerated for 16 hours and the resultant BOD, COD and cyanide levels were brought to acceptable levels.

* Paper and Pulp Mill Effluent Treatment

GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology has developed a pilot scale technology 100 Litres for treatment of paper and pulp mill effluent.
* Dye Industry Effluent Treatment
Rajasthan University, Jaipur has developed an efficient phytoremediation technology for degradation of reactive azodyes in waste water from textile dyeing industries. The technology has been demonstrated at the site of Shyam dyeing company in Sanganer. A common effluent treatment plant for treatment of waste from 3 units has been set up which has capacity to treat 35000 litre per day of textile wastewater.
Sardar Patel University, Anand has developed bench scale sequential anaerobic –aerobic treatment system consisting of anaerobic upflow film bioreactor and fluidized bed bioreactor for treatment of reactive dye industry effluent.

* Oilzapper Technology for Bioremediation of Crude Oil Spills & Treatment of Oily Sludge

Oilzapper technology developed by TERI, New Delhi for crude oil spill treatment and oily sludge degradation has been demonstrated at a no. of refineries viz., Barauni Refinery , Bihar, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Kandla Terminal , Gujarat, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.,Mumbai, Maharashtra, Digboi Refinery , Assam, Guwahati Refinery ,Assam, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Panipat ,Haryana and Visakhapatnam , Andhra Pradesh, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Kanpur , U.P and Rajkot Terminal, Gujarat, Mathura Refinery ,Mathura , Uttar Pradesh, Oil India Ltd., Duliajan , Assam, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., Jorhat , Assam and Reliance Refinery, Jamnagar , Gujarat and more than 11,610 tonnes of sludge has been treated using oilzapper. The technology has been transferred to M/s Sriram Biotech Ltd., Hyderabad and M/s Bharat Petroleum Chemicals Ltd., Mumbai.

* Microbial Desulphurisation of Fossil Fuels and Biogas

NEERI, Nagpur, has developed a chemo biochemical process for desulphurisation of gaseous stream containing hydrogen sulphide and successfully demonstrated at pilot scale with a capacity of 100 Nm3/hr at Vam Organic Chemicals Ltd., Gajraula to assess the techno economic feasibility of the developed process for large scale application. The process has also been demonstrated at Mathura Refinery.

(e) Biosensor / Biosurfactant / Bioscrubber

* Biosensor for Detection of Pesticide Residues

Visva Bharti University, Shantiniketan has developed a biosensor for detection and estimation of organophosphates such as Metacid 50 and carbamate residues in the environment. The sensor is designed and constructed on the ability of these two pesticides to inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE), an essential enzyme responsible for normal neural transmission. The biosensor is simple, portable and capable of providing rapid data in the field for measurement of trace concentration of these pesticide residues. The biosensor is like a pH paper which changes colour according to the level of contamination. Greater intensity of the yellow colour denotes lower level of contamination while lesser and lesser intensity means higher level of contamination
* Detection of Pathogens in Drinking Water

NEERI, Nagpur has developed a user friendly colour based detection system for E.coli (upto 500 cells) in drinking water. Efforts are being made to increase the sensitivity of this test by reducing pathogen load and extending the test to Salmonella and Vibrio.
* Biosurfactants from Wastes
NEERI, Nagpur has isolated two biosurfactant-producing microorganisms from oil-contaminated soils and standardized the technology for cost-effective production of biosurfactants from low cost substrates such as distillery and whey waste without any additional source of carbon. It is an ecofriendly substitute for synthetic surfactants.
* Bioscrubber’ for Removal of Odours from Industrial Emissions
NEERI, Nagpur has isolated & characterised microbial cultures capable of degrading different odorants in industrial emissions and used for biotransformation of odorants into secondary products or to carbon dioxide and water. A pilot plant is being set up at M/s Jubilant Organosys Ltd. (JOL), Bhartiagram.

4. Details of patents filed / granted

From the DBT supported projects, 12 patents have been filed, details are given below :
Four patents on process for preparation of biocatalyst for elimination of DDT residues from industrial effluent, soil and contaminated sites, enhanced degradation of DDT and microbial formulation for degradation of HCH by CFTRI, Mysore.
One Indian Patent on improved process for simultaneous production of biogas mainly containig methane and biofertilizer using high rate biomethanation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent has been filed by Centre for Biochemical Technology, Delhi now known as IGBD.
Two Indian patents on production of pollution free gaseous fuel and development of high rate and yield hydrogen production process filed by IIT, Kharagpur.

One Indian patent on biodegradation of oil refinery waste filed by TERI, New Delhi.
Two Indian patent on process for preparation of biosurfactant for recovery of oil and biosurfactant from distillery waste filed by NEERI, Nagpur.
One Indian patent on a novel odour monitoring unit by NEERI, Nagpur
One Indian patent on biosensor for detection of pesticide residues filed by Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan.

5. New initiatives for the 10th Plan