2024 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Environmental Bioengineering
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Toshiaki Fukui / Kanami Orihara / Kazuhiko Miyanaga
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Mon / 7-8 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A363
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Our modern society is depending on adequate supply of energy, clean and safe water, air, and foods, and essential materials, as well as efficient waste management for preservation of a global environment. Environmental Bioengineering is a branch of biotechnology whose objective is to utilize biological functions for the preservation and remediation of a global environment.
This course covers several biological functions (mainly microbial functions) regarding the following topics: global cycles of major elements; metabolisms of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, and others; biodegradation of wood resources and some environmental pollutants; bioremediation of polluted environments. The course concludes by discussing the conrtibution of the biological functions to establishment of sustainable society, such as production of biofuels and biomaterials from renewable biomass resources.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand material balance and circulation of carbon and water in a global environment
2. Explain metabolisms of nitrogen, phosphorous, and others in water environments and application of them to wasterwater treatment
3. Explain metabolisms of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and volatile compounds in gaseous environments
4. Explain biodegradation of wood resources and some pollutants in soil environments
5. Understand the contribution of the biological functions to establishment of sustainable society, as well as discuss about sustainable development of society
Keywords
Material balance, circulation, wastewater treatment, nitrification, denitrification, methane fermentation, composting, carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation, biodegradation, bioremediation, biomass resources, sustainable society
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The lecture will proceed along with reviewing of basic knowledge of biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, and genetic engineering, as well as summary of the previous class. When necessary, the points in this class will be given by questioning and students will be asked to answer the questions. It is strongly recommended to read syllabus and the corresponding part in the text before the class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Carbon & water circulation in the earth surface: Carbon circulation driven by biological function and water reservoir and circulation in the earth surface | Understand the importance of material balance and circulation of carbon and water. |
| Class 2 | Nitrogen circulation in the earth surface: Nitrogen circulation driven by biological function in the earth surface | Understand the importance of material balance and circulation of nitrogen. |
| Class 3 | Index of water quality and wastewater treatment: Definition and measurement of BOD & COD, and their relation to wastewater treatment | Understand the definition and measurement of BOD & COD, and explain the relation to waste water treatment. |
| Class 4 | Biological function & evaluation in relation to water environment: Anabolism, Catabolism, Co-metabolism, Nitrification, & Denitrification | Understand the biological mechanism of anabolism, catabolism, co-metabolism, nitrification, & denitrification, and explain the relation to waste water treatment. |
| Class 5 | Biological treatment under aerobic condition: Mechanism, process, and characterization of activated sludge system | Explain the biological mechanism of activated sludge method, process and its characterization. |
| Class 6 | Biological treatment under anaerobic condition: Mechanism and process of biological dephosphorylation & methane fermentation | Explain the biological mechanism of dephosphorylation & methane fermentation. |
| Class 7 | Review of the first half of the course (classes 1–6) and midterm exam. | Review what was taught during the classes 1-6. |
| Class 8 | Biological functions in gaseous environments: Metabolisms of carbon and energy | Explain autotrophic CO2 fixation and photosynthesis, heterotrophic CO2 emission, and the related energy metabolisms. |
| Class 9 | Biological functions in gaseous environments: Nitrogen fixation and metabolisms of volatile compounds | Explain nitrogen fixation and metabolisms of volatile compounds. |
| Class 10 | Biological functions in soil environments: Biodegradation of wood resources | Explain biodegradation of polysaccharides and lignin derived from wood resources. |
| Class 11 | Biological functions in soil environments: Biodegradable plastics & compost | Explain biodegradable plastics and compost. |
| Class 12 | Biological functions for bioremediation: Biodegradation of environmental pollutants | Explain biodegradation of environmental pollutants and bioremediation. |
| Class 13 | Contribution of biological functions to establishment of sustainable society | Explain sustainable society utilizing biomass resources. |
| Class 14 | Review of the second half of the course (classes 8–13) and final exam. | Review what was taught during the classes 8-13. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Kankyo Seibutsukougaku (Koudansha Scientific, Unno et al.,) ISBN 4-06-139806-7
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Handouts will be distributed at the beginning of class when necessary and elaborated on using PowerPoint slides. PowerPoint documents that are to be used in class will be made available in advance via the T2SCHOLA system. Students are expected to use these documents for preparation and review purposes.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Midterm exam: 50%, Final exam: 50%
Related courses
- LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
- LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
- LST.A345 ： Microbiology
- LST.A336 ： Genetic Engineering
Prerequisites
Request knowledge equivalent to: Biochemistry I (A203), Biochemistry II (A218), or have equivalent knowledge.
Other
In-person class (There is a possibility of changes be depending on the situation regarding COVID-19)