Bioremediation, Algal Biofuel, and Microcosm - Essay Example

Completion of the bioremediation process would prevent the unrestricted removal of the explosives and weapons. In addition, this would also prevent accidental release of TNT to water sources.  A perimeter fence should be erected on the burial ground, and before the process of bioremediation commences, a mines expert should conduct a risk assessment of the area. This is to ensure that personnel is protected from the random detonation of explosives especially cluster bombs. Protection material should be issued to personnel as TNT is toxic and carcinogenic.

The nitroaromatic compounds will be degraded at a field scale by employing in situ bioremediation strategies. The microbial cultures for aerobic respiration will comprise Pseudomonas spp. The rate of the bioremediation process will be increased via biostimulation and this entails the incorporation of nutrient media to boost process efficiency and activity of monooxygenase enzyme. These bacteria will utilize TNT as a nitrogen source by removing it in nitrite form from TNT under aerobic conditions. Further aerobic respiration will result in the reduction of nitrate to ammonium. However other by-products such as nitroso and hydroxylamine intermediates will be formed. 

After aerobic degradation, anaerobic degradation will follow using Clostridium spp. The Clostridium spp will fully degrade the toxic intermediates.  The fermentable sugar that will be supplemented will be molasses and it will provide energy for the Clostridium spp to degrade the nitrate contaminants. After the bioremediation process, follow-up tests should be conducted on the soil to check for the presence of nitroaromatic compounds. Routine monitoring should entail the collection of soil samples to test nitroaromatic contaminants using high-power liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Question 2

The process of generating biofuels using algae is viable. Genetic modification can be incorporated to produce recombinant high oil yielding Spirulina alga strains.  The alga strains will be cultivated in a pond using a starter culture of superior genetically modified alga strains. The special ponds are open paddle wheel mixed ponds. These ponds are low cost and have a low parasitic energy demand (Lundquist, et al 3). The biomass will be harvested via flocculation followed by the process of sedimentation. The formed algae slurry will be thickened via gravity sedimentation. Drying of the biomass will be done using solar heat. A hexane extraction plant will be set up to extract oils from the dry algae biomass. The plant must have a large capacity that is approximately 4000 metric tons per day for favorable economies of scale.  After extraction of oil from the alga biomass, the residual biomass is recycled back in the pond. It is re-wetted before the process of anaerobic digestion in order to yield biogas and flue gas. Biogas is used to generate electricity that is used in the pond. Flue gas is a source of carbon dioxide in the pond. Other digester residues comprise carbon and nutrients and they are also recycled in the pond for alga propagation. The nutrients comprise the much-needed phosphorus and nitrogen that are essential for algal growth.  Recycling these crucial nutrients provides a major cost-cutting measure.

Question 3

The chapter, E.coli genesis from the book Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life (Zimmer), is quite enlightening on the subject of microbial life.  The author reiterates the importance of E.coli as a model organism to understand other forms of life such as plants and animals. Indeed, the genetic makeup of E.coli has been instrumental in the understanding of gene functionality. It is most notable that the book reaffirms that gene functioning is dependent on the environment. For instance, E.coli may harbor or acquire antibiotic-resistant genes via horizontal gene transfer in order to survive in an environment with antibiotics.  Pathogenic strains of enterohemorrhagic E.coli such as O157: H7 harbor virulence genes that promote invasion and survival in the host. Thus genes express proteins that confer a selective advantage for survival in many organisms. Indeed genes encoding superior traits enable the survival of organisms. The possibility of life on other planets is highly probable. Organisms that can survive in the gaseous environment of these planets can evolve. Their genes may allow functionality and survival in the respective environment of other planets. Microorganisms have been isolated in many regions on earth including those with extreme temperature and gaseous conditions. Organisms that are adapted to the conditions of each respective planet can be hypothesized. Such organisms are likely to be endowed with traits that will ensure survival and even natural selection in their respective planet. There is also the aspect of evolution in such planets where higher organisms may develop from simple organisms.