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Genetic Engineering for Wastewater Treatment
Author(s) -
McCLURE N. C.,
FRY J. C.,
WEIGHTMAN A. J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1991.tb00678.x
Subject(s) - pollutant , microbial inoculant , genetically engineered , activated sludge , wastewater , bacteria , sewage treatment , genetically modified organism , biochemical engineering , biology , biodegradation , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental science , waste management , environmental engineering , ecology , engineering , genetics , gene
Abstract This paper discusses the application of genetic engineering to improved wastewater treatment, with particular emphasis on the enhanced breakdown of recalcitrant pollutants. The genetic construction of bacterial strains capable of degrading problem compounds, especially chlorinated aromatics, is described. In addition, the problems affecting the functioning of these ‘genetically engineered’laboratory strains in situ is addressed. The results of recent studies into the survival and function of both ‘natural’and ‘genetically engineered’bacteria inoculated into laboratory‐scale activated‐sludge units are presented. These results indicate that several factors may affect the expression of catabolic activities in situ , and that those bacteria which are well adapted to growth and survival in target ecosystems are more likely to be successful inoculants than are laboratory strains.