Universidade Nova de Lisboa

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Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Biocatalysis and Bioremediation

Code

7259

Academic unit

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Department

Departamento de Química

Credits

6.5

Teacher in charge

Maria Ascenção Carvalho Fernandes Miranda Reis, Susana Filipe Barreiros

Weekly hours

8

Total hours

74

Teaching language

Português

Objectives

The main objectives of the course are to show the relevance of biocatalysis and to cover topics considered essential for understanding/applying this technology, with an emphasis on nonaqueous media, as well as to provide fundamental principles of biodegradation/biotransformation of hazardous pollutants and describe the emerging technologies for their removal or reduction.


Prerequisites

None.

Subject matter

I - Introduction. Brief history and quantitative analysis of industrial biotransformations. Examples of biotransformations carried out on an industrial scale, for different classes of enzymes.

II - Physico-chemical aspects of biocatalysis in nonaqueous media (NAM). ‘Greener’ NAM: supercritical fluids and ionic liquids. Activity, stability and selectivity in NAM. Most studied enzymes for bioremediation.

III - Medium engineering and protein engineering for improving enzymatic properties. Molecular modeling for establishing structure-function relationships for enzymes. Site-directed mutagenesis and directed evolution methods for generating more efficient enzymes for the removal of xenobiotics.

IV - Introduction to bioremediation. Environmental contamination by hazardous substances; magnitude of the contamination problem. Advantages and disadvantages of bioremediation. Type of pollutants (organic and inorganic- heavy metals). Physical and chemical transformation of pollutants in soil.

V - Principles of biodegradation/biotransformation of pollutants. Microbial ecology. Factors influencing biodegradation. Common biotransformation/biodegradation mechanisms (metabolic pathways and kinetics). Cooperation between different microbial species for enhanced biodegradation.

VII - Technologies for bioremediation. In situ bioremediation (natural attenuation and enhanced bioremediation); ex situ bioremediation (land farming and soil composting). Aerobic versus anaerobic bioremediation. Biostimulation versus bioaugmentation.

Bibliography

1. Industrial Biotransformations, A. Liese, K. Seelbach, C. Wandrey (Eds), WILEY-VCH, Alemanha, 2006. 
2. Biocatalysts and Enzyme Technology, Klaus Buchholz, Volker Kasche, Uwe Theo Bornscheuer, WILEY-VCH, Alemanha, 2005. 
3. Engenharia Enzimática, J.M.S. Cabral, M.R.Aires-Barros, M. Gama (Eds), Lidel-Edições Técnicas Lda, Lisboa, 2003. 
4. Biotecnologia –Fundamentos e Aplicações, M. Mota, N. Lima (Eds), Lidel-Edições Técnicas Lda, Lisboa, 2003. 
5. Bioremediation and Natural Attenuation- Process Fundamentals and Mathematical Models, P.J. Alvarez, W.A. Illman (Eds), Wiley InterScience, 2006.

Teaching method

Lectures. 
Seminars on relevant topics given by invited specialists. 
Problem solving classes. 
Laboratory classes. 
Guided research on suggested topics. 
Elaboration of a written report based on the laboratory classes, followed by discussion.
Elaboration of powerpoint slide presentations. 
Seminars given by the students, based on researched topics, 
followed by discussion.

    
    
     
Evaluation method

     
        
 
  
Admission to the final exam requires that the students have taken the laboratory classes and delivered a written report along the guidelines set out for the course, and also that students have prepared and presented the seminars indicated, in each case within the deadlines agreed. 
   
Laboratory work, written report and discussion – 25 % of the final grade = 5 points (students must score at least half that value for admission to the exam). 
   
Elaboration, delivery and discussion of seminars - 25 % of the final grade = 5 points (students must score at least half that value for admission to the exam).
   
Exam – 50 % of the final grade = 10 points (to pass the students must score at least half that value).

    
  
  
  
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