Program Overview

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Course Overview

Course Description

The course TBT4131, Environmental Biotechnology, is an introduction to environmental biotechnology, focusing on the utilization of microbial processes in waste and water treatment, and bioremediation. Topics included are microbial energy metabolism, microbial growth kinetics and elementary chemostat theory, relevant microbiological processes, microbial ecology, approaches for studying microbial communities, and basic principles in bioremediation and biological water and waste treatment.

Course Details

Course Content

The course covers various aspects of environmental biotechnology, including:

• Microbial energy metabolism
• Microbial growth kinetics and elementary chemostat theory
• Relevant microbiological processes
• Microbial ecology
• Approaches for studying microbial communities
• Basic principles in bioremediation and biological water and waste treatment

Learning Outcome

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• Classify microbes according to energy source and carbon source and evaluate energy outcome of the energy metabolism according to electron acceptor and electron donor usage
• Apply Monod's kinetics and basic chemostat theory to determine microbial growth rates, biomass yield, and substrate concentration and removal rate
• Describe suitable methods for characterizing the activity, function, diversity, and composition of microbial communities
• Define basic concepts in microbial ecology, such as carrying capacity, succession, r- and K-selection, ecological niches
• Outline the principles of methods for quantification of organic carbon in wastewater and calculate the theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD) for simple organic compounds
• Explain the microbial processes and growth requirements underlying the activated sludge process, nitrification, denitrification, enhanced phosphorus removal, and anaerobic digestion
• Evaluate alternative process schemes for combined biological nutrient removal (BNR)
• Describe the most commonly applied disinfection methods, and the steps typically involved in drinking water treatment process train
• Evaluate the potential for biodegradation of organic pollutants, taking microbial and physical/chemical environments, as well as the chemical structure of the compound itself, into consideration

Learning Methods and Activities

The course includes:

• Lectures
• Calculatory exercises
• Group work
• A theoretical thesis
• One all-day excursion

Compulsory Assignments

• Compulsory exercise

Evaluation

The final grade is based on:

• Written exam (80%)
• Report (20%) If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may change from written to oral. When re-taking to improve the grade, the individual partial assessment can be re-taken.

Specific Conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:

• Health Management in Aquaculture (MSAQUAH)

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Prior knowledge in biochemistry and microbiology is a prerequisite. The course TBT4170 Biotechnology, or similar courses, is recommended. Admission to this course is restricted.

Course Materials

Course material is specified at the beginning of the course.

Credit Reductions

The course has academic overlap with TBT4130. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject Areas

• Technological subjects

Examination

Examination Arrangement

The examination arrangement is an aggregate score, with a grade based on letter grades.

Ordinary Examination

The ordinary examination consists of:

• School exam (80%): 4 hours, Inspera Assessment
• Assignment (20%): Inspera Assessment

Re-sit Examination

The re-sit examination consists of:

• School exam (80%): 4 hours, Inspera Assessment
• Assignment (20%): Inspera Assessment

Course Schedule

Course Start

The course starts in the Spring semester of 2026.

Duration

The course duration is 1 semester.

Location

The course is located in Trondheim.

Language of Instruction

The language of instruction is English and Norwegian.

Credits

The course is worth 7.5 credits.

Level

The course is at the second degree level.