Environmental biotechnology: a tandem of biocatalytic and engineering approaches

The review gives examples of integrated approaches based on a tandem of biocatalytic and engineering methods to problems in the biotechnological protection of three basic constituents of the environment, namely, soil, water, and atmosphere, from dangerous pollution. The current situation associated with oil pollution of soils and water surfaces in Russia is analyzed. The results of the field tests of the biopreparation Roder recently developed for bioremediation of these surfaces are presented. New solutions aiming at extending the area of application of high-rate anaerobic wastewater treatment at low temperatures (4—10 °C) are discussed. The efficiency of a novel anaerobic-aerobic hybrid reactor for mineralization of recalcitrant wastewater containing azo dyes was estimated. The last two lines relate to a traditional function of the environmental biotechnology (so-called end of pipe treatment). A biocatalytic technology for the removal of hydrogen sulfide and the recovery of elementary sulfur from contaminated gases was proposed. This highlights a new phase in the development of environmental biotechnology allowing waste recycling.