ABSTRACT
Environmental biotechnology is an emerging technology with the aim of environmental protection, emphasizing remediation of contaminated sites and pollution monitoring and prevention. Advancements in the field of environmental biotechnology employ methodological and conceptual approaches targeting strategic management of microbial communities in a variable environment of interest. Both microbiological and process engineering parameters are being used in wastewater treatment, solid waste management and waste gas treatments. Further, the evolution of technology leading to the development of novel analytical and molecular biology tools, such as bioreceptors and biocatalysts, is helping to transform environmental biotechnology. Pollutants, toxins and various other environmental chemicals can be classified and screened for their toxicity using the omics approaches—transcriptomics, proteomics and genomics. Metabolomics can be employed to study the biodegradation profiles of pollutants. Techniques such as compound-specific isotope analysis can be used to increase the understanding of the short-term and long-term effects of toxins on the ecosystem. The new agenda that environmental biotechnology highlights are based on BATNEEC (best available technology not entailing high cost) under proper legislations. Renewable resources can be captured and modified to solve energy crises using biochemical engineering. Biotechnology can thus help in the progression towards a more sustainable world.
