APPLICATION OF MICROORGANISM IN ENVIROMENTAL MANAGEMENT

In waste water treatment:

There are two primary methods that microorganisms employ when reducing the level of pollutants in
waste water.

Aerobic. The process involves use of bacteria which rely on oxygen to survive and multiply. Microbes
digest organic waste by stealing its oxygen altering the chemical makeup of the material into less
environmental damaging matter. Example includes Tetrasphaera, Trichoccus and Rhodofera.

Anaerobic. Anaerobic digestion is the biological fermentation of organic matter, organic materials are
converted into biogas, which help to reduce pollutants and contaminants from the water. Anaerobic
treatment is used to alter the chemical composition of the organic material found in waste water to
make it more environmentally friendly. Examples include candidatus and rhodobactus .

The whole treatment results in biochemical demand reduction, chemical oxygen demand reduction and
total suspended solids reduction and odor elimination.

In bioremediation:

Is highly involved in degradation, eradication , immobilization or detoxification diverse chemical wastes

and physical hazardous material from the surrounding through the action of microorganism . The main
principle is degrading and transforming pollutants such as hydrocarbon, heavy metals, pesticides, which
are carried out in enzymatic way through though metabolizing. So it has a great contribution role to
solve many environmental problems. Example is pseudomonas putida and Dechloromonas aromatic.

Microbial desulfurization of coal

Microbial depyritization promotes the oxidation conversion of inorganic sulfur compound to water
soluble products. The pyrite removal results from the combined effect of direct bacterial attack and
indirect chemical solubilization .

Use fungi in decomposition :

They play a major role as decomposer and recycler. Making it possible for members of other kingdom
to be supplied with nutrients and to live . Nitrogen and phosphorus are required in large quantities by
biological system. The action of fungi release of the elements from decaying matter, make the available
to other living organism example are saprophytic fungi i.e. Yeast.

Carbon cycle

The decomposition of plants and animals when they die it is done by the bacterial and fungi. The organic
matter is reoxidezed and CO2 is returned back to the environment, it can be under Aerobic (60-90% of
carbon) or anaerobic (95-98% of carbon). Reduced for of carbon is methane. it is a high energy yielding
substance and burnt as fuel. Anaerobic digester include ( methanobacterium).
The ruminant symbiosis

The herbivous eat grass as the major source of carbon and energy in form of cellulose. Ruminants live in
symbiotic relationship with the microbes that produce cellulase which convert cellulose polymer to
sugar monomer. The microbes then ferment the sugars producing by products that can in turn be
metabolized by the ruminant host.

Nitrogen fixation symbiosis.

Over cultivation of land may lead to deprivation of nitrogen in soil but rotation of leguminous plant
increases the levels of nitrogen significantly. Legumes have nodules containing Rhizobia bacteria which
help to fix nitrogen in soil. This exclude use of inorganic fertilizer which are environmental hazard.

Bioleaching

Involves use of various ferrous iron and sulphur oxidizing bacteria such as Acidithiobacillus
ferrooxidants , Acidithiobacillus Thiooxidants which oxidizes the iron ores . the iron suphur bacteria are
mainly used for futher oxidation of the metals which are isolated from the envbiroment.

Bio pesticides

Microbes especially bacteria produce allelopathic substances which serve as biological control against
various pests . they have the ability to metabolite and synthesize hence inhibiting the activity of the
plant pathogens and prevent plant disease indicating their potential in effective bio pesticides: example
bacillus thuringenesis.

Bio herbicides

Is another way of controlling weed without environmental hazardous posed by the synthetic herbicides.
The microbes possess an invasive genes that attack the defense gene of the of the weed by killing it.

The benefit of using bio herbicides is that it can survive in the environmental long enough for the next
growing season where there will be no weed to infect. It is a cheaper method thus could
essentially reduce farming expense if managed properly. Example is Alternaria cassiae