ABSTRACT

Two of the most pressing problems facing the worldwide nations are rapid depletion of vital natural resources and pollution of the environment. Presently, available coal, oil, and large reservoirs of underground natural gas originated from natural decomposition of prehistoric forms of life. Modern society is depleting these resources at an alarming rate, and renewable sources must be developed within the near future for continued industrial growth. As natural resources are depleted, pollution of the environment is occurring at the same alarming rate. Fortunately, a large number of the organic substances with which water systems and/or land have become polluted have the potential of being recovered through natural biological processes.