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Engineering Life: Miracles in Biotechnology - Environmental protection-advanced

Grade 9CBSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

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Bioremediation: The process of using living organisms, primarily microorganisms like bacteria or fungi, to neutralize or remove contaminants from a polluted area. It is classified into 'In-situ' (treatment at the site) and 'Ex-situ' (removal of contaminated material to be treated elsewhere).

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Microbial Degradation: Specific bacteria like PseudomonasPseudomonas putidaputida are engineered to degrade toxic compounds such as camphor, octane, and salicylate. AlcanivoraxAlcanivorax borkumensisborkumensis is used for cleaning up marine oil spills by breaking down hydrocarbons into CO2CO_2 and H2OH_2O.

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Phytoremediation: The use of plants to clean up soil, air, and water contaminated with hazardous chemicals. For example, BrassicaBrassica junceajuncea (Mustard) is used to absorb heavy metals like Selenium (SeSe) and Lead (PbPb).

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Biofuels: Biotechnology enables the production of renewable fuels. Bio-ethanol (C2H5OHC_2H_5OH) is produced through the fermentation of sugars (from corn or sugarcane) using the yeast SaccharomycesSaccharomyces cerevisiaecerevisiae.

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Genetic Engineering for Environment: Developing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) that can survive in extreme conditions to process waste. For example, DeinococcusDeinococcus radioduransradiodurans is a bacterium engineered to treat radioactive waste.

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Biosensors: Using biological molecules like DNA or enzymes to detect the presence of specific pollutants in the environment. These provide highly sensitive and real-time monitoring of toxicity levels.

📐Formulae

C6H12O6→Saccharomyces  cerevisiae2C2H5OH+2CO2+EnergyC_{6}H_{12}O_{6} \xrightarrow{Saccharomyces \; cerevisiae} 2C_{2}H_{5}OH + 2CO_{2} + Energy

6CO2+6H2O→light/chlorophyllC6H12O6+6O26CO_{2} + 6H_{2}O \xrightarrow{light/chlorophyll} C_{6}H_{12}O_{6} + 6O_{2}

Efficiency (%)=(Cinitial−CfinalCinitial)×100\text{Efficiency (\%)} = \left( \frac{C_{initial} - C_{final}}{C_{initial}} \right) \times 100

Rate of Degradation=Δ[Pollutant]Δt\text{Rate of Degradation} = \frac{\Delta[Pollutant]}{\Delta t}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

A sample of 1000 L1000 \text{ L} of industrial wastewater contains a toxic chemical at a concentration of 250 mg/L250 \text{ mg/L}. After applying a specialized bacterial culture for 55 days, the concentration is reduced to 25 mg/L25 \text{ mg/L}. Calculate the percentage efficiency of the bioremediation process.

Solution:

Initial Concentration (Ci)=250 mg/L\text{Initial Concentration } (C_i) = 250 \text{ mg/L} Final Concentration (Cf)=25 mg/L\text{Final Concentration } (C_f) = 25 \text{ mg/L} Efficiency (%)=(250−25250)×100\text{Efficiency (\%)} = \left( \frac{250 - 25}{250} \right) \times 100 Efficiency (%)=(225250)×100=90%\text{Efficiency (\%)} = \left( \frac{225}{250} \right) \times 100 = 90\%

Explanation:

The efficiency is calculated by determining the amount of pollutant removed relative to the initial amount. Here, 90%90\% of the toxin was successfully degraded by the microbes.

Problem 2:

A biofuel plant uses the fermentation of glucose to produce ethanol. If the plant processes 180 g180 \text{ g} of glucose (C6H12O6C_6H_{12}O_6), what is the maximum theoretical mass of ethanol (C2H5OHC_2H_5OH) produced? (Molar masses: Glucose = 180 g/mol180 \text{ g/mol}, Ethanol = 46 g/mol46 \text{ g/mol})

Solution:

The fermentation equation is: C6H12O6→2C2H5OH+2CO2C_{6}H_{12}O_{6} \rightarrow 2C_{2}H_{5}OH + 2CO_{2} According to the stoichiometry: 1 mole of Glucose→2 moles of Ethanol1 \text{ mole of Glucose} \rightarrow 2 \text{ moles of Ethanol} 180 g of Glucose→2×46 g of Ethanol180 \text{ g of Glucose} \rightarrow 2 \times 46 \text{ g of Ethanol} Mass of Ethanol=92 g\text{Mass of Ethanol} = 92 \text{ g}

Explanation:

Using the balanced chemical equation for fermentation, 11 mole of glucose yields 22 moles of ethanol. Since the starting mass is exactly 11 mole (180 g180 \text{ g}), the output is 2×46=92 g2 \times 46 = 92 \text{ g} of ethanol.