Fall Semester 2021, Course Outline: Environmental Biotechnology

Course # BTE 304

Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
66 Mohakhali, Dhaka – 1212

Instructor: Fahmina Akhtar (FMA)

Office: 15th Floor (UB21505)
Phone: +880-2-9844051
Email: fahmina.akhtar@bracu.ac.bd
Course Number: BTE 304
Course Name: Basic Biochemistry
Credit Hours: 03 (Three)
Section: 01
Lectures on: Sunday / Tuesday (3:30 PM to 4:50 PM)
Class Meeting Place: https://meet.google.com/igr-dcoh-iuj?authuser=1
Consultation Time: Open

Course description: The course is designed to orienting students toward a comprehensive

overview of modern pollution problems and potential biological remediation techniques
emphasizing the different types of biotechnological processes that exist in the field of
environmental applications. A closer look will be given to the microbiological and ecological
foundations that explain the participation of microorganisms in ecosystems and the great power
that exists in their biotechnological use. Since the true essence of bioremediation is to provide a
favorable environment for naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade pollutants. As long as
the pollutants are susceptible to biodegradation, they are sufficiently bioavailable, and the right
environmental conditions can be provided, bioremediation will outcompete other cleanup
strategies such as physical chemical methods or secure landfilling. Bioremediation of sites
contaminated with hazardous organic pollutants is introduced including site characterization,
waste containment, and the analysis of remediation alternatives.

Learning Outcome: By the end of this course, the students will be able to know:

• The basic principle of microbiology required for biodegradation for toxic and hazardous
compounds
• The potential biological remediation techniques
• How to solve problems often encountered in application of bioremediation
• The bioremediation in wastewater treatment.
• The environmental biotechnology in pollution detection and monitoring
• How to reduce the environmental impact of agricultural pesticides.
 • The available approaches for reducing carbon emission in environment.
• The application of nanotechnology for environmental remediation.

Required Textbook:
1. Environmental Biotechnology: Theory and Application. Authors: Gareth M. Evans &
Judith C. Furlong

Marks Distribution: Final grade will be based on periodical quizzes, midterm examination,
laboratory experiments, group presentation and final examination. The quizzes/ exams will consist
of multiple-choice questions, matching questions, true/false questions and short answer questions
and mark distribution will be as follows:

Number Marks
Quizzes 4 20%
Mid-term Exam 1 20%
Final Exam 1 20%
Assignment 4 20%
Viva 1 10%
Participation 10%
Total 100%

Attendance’s policy: Arriving 15 minutes late or more is automatic absent. If the total
attendance is less than 70% of the total number of classes, the student will not be allowed to
appear in the mid-semester and semester final exams irrespective of the reason of absences,
and he/she will be listed as an absentee. 5% of the total marks allocated for class atendance will
be awarded according to the following scheme.

Attendance Marks
90% and above 5
85% - 89% 4
80% - 84% 3
75% - 79% 2
70% - 74% 1
Less than 70% 0(Absentee)

(**** This policy is not for online semester)

The grades and the grade points:The grades and grade points will be calculated as per the BRAC
University grading system which is as follows:
 % Of marks obtained Letter grade Grade sign Grade points
90 - 100 A plain 4.00
85 - < 90 A- minus 3.70
80 - < 85 B+ plus 3.30
75 - < 80 B plain 3.00
70 - < 75 B- minus 2.70
65 - < 70 C+ plus 2.30
60 - < 65 C plain 2.00
57 - < 60 C- minus 1.70
55 - < 57 D+ plus 1.30
52 - <55 D plain 1.00
50 - <52 D- minus 0.70
< 50 F plain 0.00

Course dispension: It will mainly involve two lectures of 1 hour and 20 minutes durations
every week. Different teaching aids will be used when it will be deemed necessary. Class room
discussion and problem solving sessions will supplement the lecture presentations.

Evaluation procedure: Evaluation of the students will be done on the basis of the marks
distribution scheme described earlier. The final examination will be taken on the entire syllabus,
and it will be of two hours duration. The mid-semester examination will be one hour long and
will be held around the middle of the semester. The quizzes are based on the lectures and there
will be no make-up for missed quizzes.

Make up exams for mid-semester and semester final are strongly discouraged but may be
allowed under complelling situations like, serious illness supported by authentic medical
certificate endorsed by the university medical officer. However, the candidate must pay make
up exam fee as per the university rule.

Revised Make-UP Policy: “Make-up examinations will only be allowed to the students with
extreme medical condition OR death in the immediate family during the semester”. In such cases,
allowing to sit for the make-up exam is to be recommended by the course teacher and approved
by the parental departmental heads.

Lecture Details: The tentative course/lecture schedule is given below. Note that the order of the
topics may be changed if necessary.
Tentative Lecture Schedule

Classes Content Task

1 A discussion on course overview
2 Lecture 1: Environmental Biotechnology: Meaning, Applications
and Other Details
3 Lecture 2: Microbial Ecology, Diversity and Environmental
Biotechnology
4 Quiz 1
5 Lecture 3: Xenobiotics and Recalcitrant
6 Lecture 4: Bioremediation
7 Lecture 4: Bioremediation
8 Quiz 2
9 Lecture 5: Biomass and Biofuel
10 Lecture 5: Biomass and Biofuel
11 Mid Term Exam. 2021
12 Lecture 6: Biosurfactants
13 Lecture 6: Biosurfactants
14 Lecture 7: Biopesticides
15 Lecture 7: Biopesticides
16 Quiz 3
17 Lecture 8: Biosensor
18 Lecture 8: Biosensor
19 Lecture 9: Biological Treatment of Wastewater
20 Lecture 9: Biological Treatment of Wastewater
21 Lecture 9: Biological Treatment of Wastewater
22 Quiz 4
23 Lecture 10: Carbon Sequestration
24 Lecture 10: Carbon Sequestration
25 Review