Proposed Syllabus for Bioremediation

This course will be divided into three parts. Part I deals with the soil and subsurface environment and covers the fate and transport of contaminants. Conservation of mass and transformation of chemicals are particularly stressed as unifying themes. Part II deals with aspects in microbial ecology, metabolism, and the biodegradation of selected contaminant compounds by plants and microorganisms. Part III covers bioremediation strategies ranging from in situ (microorganisms and plants), solid phase, slurry phase, and vapor-phase treatments. Emphasis also will be placed on natural attenuation.

The course is opened to both undergraduate and graduate students. Grades will be based on two take-home exams that will cover the first half and then the second half of the material, respectively. A final project will be required of Graduate Students. The project will be assigned at the mid-point of the course and will involve a paper that describes how a specific bioremediation strategy would be chosen and then implemented for a contaminant site. Details on the site will be provided. An oral presentation of 15 minutes concerning the paper will be required. The aim is for the graduate students to critically assess environmental data, to use the assessment in designing a remediation strategy, and to succinctly describe their observations and strategy for an audience of peers.

For graduate students, the exams and project will each represent one third of the final grade. Grades for undergraduate students will be based on the two exams alone. Problem sets will be assigned each week, and will be gone over in class. Although the problem sets will not be part of the course grade, they will be collected and must be done completely, logically and legibly in order for students to receive a passing grade. Teamwork by students is encouraged when solving the problem sets.

Lectures: M, W from 9:30 – 10:45 am, BO 2045

Lecturer: Daryl F. Dwyer, Ph.D.

Office BO 3096 H, Office hours W from 10:00 - 11:00 am

Phone: 530-2661; email daryl_dwyer@utoledo.edu

Text: No text is required for the course. However, students are referred to: Bioremediation Principles. Eweis, Ergas, Chang, and Schroeder. WCB McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-057732-3. The text contains basic information that may be helpful. Dr. Dwyer has a copy of the text for those who are interested.

Proposed course outline:

Time Book chapters Topics

Week 1 1 Current remediation practices, benefits of

bioremediation

Week 2, 3 2 - 3 The soil environment; Fate and transport of

contaminants in soils and water bodies

Week 4, 5 3 Chemical transformations

Week 6, 7 4 – 5 Microbial ecology and metabolism

Week 8, 9 6 Biodegradation of common contaminant

compounds; Exam 1 (Text Chapters 1 – 5)

Week 10, 11 7 In situ bioremediation strategies

Week 12, 13 8 Solid phase bioremediation

Week 14 9 Slurry phase bioremediation

Week 15 10 Vapor phase bioremedation, oral

presentations

Final Exam (Text Chapters 6 – 10)