Environmental Biotechnology ESEB 2004

Keynote lectures 1. The horizontal catabolic gene pool, or how microbial communities can rapidly adapt to environmental pollutants 2. Biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal – processes of amazing diversity and complexity 3. Bioremediation, microbial pathogenicity and regulation of mammalian cell growth and death 4. Biodiversity and application of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria 5. Biofilm development by pseudomonas 6. In situ soil bioremediation and permeable reactive barriers: Risk, control and sustainability 7. Biosensing systems for monitoring aerobic wastewater treatment processes Microbial diversity 8. Analysis of sulfate reducing bacterial diversity in anaerobic wastewater treatment reactors 9. Microbial characterization of TNT-contaminated soils and anaerobic TNT degradation: High and unusual denitration activity 10. Interactions between microorganisms and heavy metals 11. Dynamics and composition of filamentous micro-organism communities in industrial water systems 12. PHA synthases from a mixed culture performing enhanced biological phosphorus removal 13. Comparative evaluation of methanogenic communities in psychrophilic and mesophilic UASB reactors treating domestic wastewater 14. Diversity of the microflora of a compost-packed biofilter treating benzene-contaminated air 15. Microbial population dynamics in a CANOXIS and a UASB TCE-degrading bioreactor 16. Diversity of pJP4-transconjugants from activated sludge Water purification 17. A novel slow release approach to bioaugment more effectively activated sludge systems 18. Removal of perchlorate and nitrate in an ion exchange membrane bioreactor 19. Process intensification of municipal wastewater treatment by aerobic granular sludge systems 20. The effect of a quinone-based redox mediator on the decolourisation of textile wastewaters: A comparative study between mesophilic (30°C) and thermophilic (55°C) anaerobic treatments by granular sludge 21. Biological organomercurial removal from vaccine production wastewaters by a Pseudomonas putida strain 22. Optimization of metal dosing in anaerobic bioreactors: Effect of dosing strategies on the performance and metal retention of methanogenic granular sludge 23. Kinetic characterization in dynamically operated CST-reactors: Ferrous iron oxidation by Leptospirillum ferrooxidans 24. Effect of salts on a partial nitrification reactor Biosafety 25. Gene expression in Ralstonia metallidurans CH34 in space flight 26. Survival, death and fate of microbial biomass in soil 27. Membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment and reuse: Virus removal Solid waste, waste recycling and biofuels 28. Humic acid formation in composts – the role of microbial activity 29. Efficiency and monitoring of methane oxidation in bio-covers on landfills 30. Development of an integrated biowaste management infrastructure – lessons learned from the Netherlands 31. Microbial hydrogen metabolism and environmental biotechnology Composition and function of biofilms and consortia 32. Biodiversity of phototrophic biofilms 33. Sulfate reduction at low pH by a defined mixed culture of acidophilic bacteria 34. A model for anoxic iron corrosion by Sh. oneidensis MR-1 based on cell density related H2 consumption and Fe(II) precipitation 35. Biological iron oxidation by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans in a biofilm airlift reactor 36. PCR-TGGE and fluorescence microscopy in the study of a lab-scale contaminant plume 37. Syntrophic sulfate-reducing cocultures 38. Occurence of Legionella pneumophila in environmental samples 39. Filamentous bacterial structures: A unifying theory supported by experimental evidences 40. Physiological and proteomic analysis of EPS production and biofilm formation for a phenol degrading bacterium 41. Application of the anammox process in wastewater treatment: Mathematical modelling 42. Screening, genetic classification and role of single bacterial strain in a MTBE degrading consortium Innovative in situ remediation 43. Use of stable isotope fractionation for the assessment of bioattenuation of chlorinated ethenes 44. In-situ biodegradation of benzene and toluene in a contaminated aquifer monitored by stable isotope fractionation 45. Comparison of different MULTIBARRIER concepts designed for treatment of groundwater containing mixed pollutants 46. Biodegradation of fuel oxygenates by MTBE-degrading microorganisms 47. Natural attenuation of landfill leachate in reaction to BTEX contamination 48. Molecular techniques and in situ mesocosm socks for monitoring in situ BTEX bioremediation 49. Biotransformation of PCBs and their intermediates by plants and bacteria – study of possible metabolic connections in nature 50. In situ bioprecipitation for remediation of metal-contaminated groundwater 51. Metals remediation compound (MRC™): A new slow-release product for in situ metals remediation 52. Enrichment of MTBE degrading bacteria from gasoline contaminated subsurface soil 53. Reductive precipitation of the nuclear fuel cycle contaminant Tc(VII) by Geobacter sulfurreducens 54. Biobarrier stability lab-scale studies for treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater Biodegradation and bioremediation 55. Microbial growth with mixtures of carbon substrates: What are its implicatios for the degradation of organic pollutants in particular and for microbial ecology in general? 56. Simultaneous degradation of atrazine and phenol by Pseudomonas sp. ADP: Effects of toxicity and adaptation 57. Removal of selected polar micropollutants in membrane bioreactors 58. The reduction of coloured compounds using whole bacterial cells (Shewanella strain J18 143) 59. Chloroform cometabolism by bacterial strains grown on butane 60. Development of an integrated approach for the removal of tributyltin from waterways and harbors 61. Functional genomic analysis of Deinococcus radiodurans resistance to ionizing radiation 62. Metabolic products of PCBs in bacteria and plants – comparison of their toxicity and genotoxicity 63. Evaluation of alkane biodegradation potential of environmental samples by competitive PCR 64. Biodegradation of short and medium chain polychlorinated alkanes Soil clean-up 65. Examining the ecological niche of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degrading Mycobacterium spp. in PAH contaminated soil 66. In situ remediation of PAH contaminated soil by combination of biodegradation and Fenton reaction 67. Fate and metabolism of [15N]2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in soil 68. Biodegradation of atrazine in the presence of soil models 69. Comparison of the degradation characteristics of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in water and soil by isolated soil microorganisms 70. In-situ removal of atrazine using synergy between plant roots and rhizospheric organisms Gas treatment 71. Fungal biodegradation of toluene in gas-phase biofilters 72. BioDeNOx: novel proces for NOx removal from flue gases based on chemically enhanced biological NO and iron reduction 73. Application of haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria for the removal of H2S from gas streams 74. Solvent-tolerant bacterial community for biofiltration of very high concentration gaseous solvent streams Microbial diversity 75. 16S-rRNA analysis for characterization of rhizosphere Zn-resistant bacteria isolated from mining area under semiarid climate 76. Diversity of bacteria isolated from waste crude oil samples. Production of bioemulsifiers and removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a land farming treatment inoculated with a microbial consortium 77. Effects of exogenous co-planar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the microbial reductive dechlorination of PCBs pre-existing in an anaerobic sediment of Venice Lagoon 78. Characterization of the microbial communities within and in the vicinity of an iron barrier 79. Microbial activity and characterization during hydrocarbon phytoremediation 80. Molecular microbial diversity and technological features of a packed-bed biofilm digestor capable of olive mill wastewater anaerobic bioremediation and valorization 81. Characterization of microbial communities removing NOx from flue gas in BioDeNOx reactors 82. Analysis of the diversity of ammonia oxidizing and denitrifying bacteria in submerged filter biofilms for the treatment of urban wastewater by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis 83. Bacterial chemotaxis towards phenanthrene in two PAH contaminated soils 84. Microbial ecology of an acid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated soil from a former gaswork manufacturing plant 85. Effects of chromate on culturable and non-culturable soil bacterial community 86. Emission and distribution of microorganisms from municipal waste dumps 87. Microbial population changes and dynamics during bioremediation of an oily-sludge contaminated soil 88. New softeners influence on the activated sludge process Water purification 89. Bioprotection of the structure and function of activated sludge microbial communities against chloroaniline shock loads 90. Bioremediation of Lead (Pb2□) from water effluents by Rhizobium sp. (BJVr-12) extracellular polysaccarides (EPS) immobilized on modified coconut husk 91. Influence of hydraulic retention time and sulfide toxicity on sulfidogenic FBR 92. Biotechnology to concentrate heavy metals from polluted waters 93. Acidogenesis in two-phase anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewater 94. Optimisation of biological textile wastewater treatment 95. Nitrite production in a granular sequencing batch reactor 96. Aerobic granulation in a sequencing batch reactor fed with industrial wastewater 97. Water recycling in Vojvodina province – necessity and possibility 98. Metal bioremoval from industrial waste waters with an EPS-producing cyanobacterium 99. Mutagenic activity of chlorine by-products of water microcontaminants – model research 100. Determination of the degradation potential of food and industrial bio-wastes under thermophilic anaerobic conditions 101. Application of aquatic weeds as carbon sink in wastewater treatment 102. Biomethanation of cheese whey using an upflow anaerobic filter 103. High storage of PHB by mixed microbial cultures under aerobic dynamic feeding conditions 104. pH and organic leaching effect of the algal Sargassum filipendula in aqueous solutions 105. Biological filtration for BOM and particle removal from drinking water supplies 106. Towards aerobic stabilization of old landfills: Simulation in lysimeters 107. Nitrile conversion by M. imperiale CBS 498-74 resting cells in batch and UF-membrane bioreactors 108. Decolorization of azo and anthraquinone dyes by fungi 109. Waste water purification to small treatment plants in regional areas and effluent recycling to feasible uses Biosafety 110. Bioregenerative life support in space missions: Degradation efficiency and microbial community stability in an anaerobic liquefying compartment 111. Light as an ambient control factor in the systems of microbiological cultivation and biodestruction 112. Occurrences fecal coliforms in the water of the high Pirapó river basin 113. Identification of human fecal pollution: Detection and quantification of the human specific HF183 Bacteroides 16S rRNA genetic marker with real-time PCR Solid waste, waste recycling and biofuels 114. Improved ethanol production from organic waste by wet oxidation pre-treatment 115. Towards an efficient and integrated biogas technology 116. Effect of cell growth phase on hydrogen production by Chlamydomonas reinhardtti Composition and function of biofilms and consortia 117. Quantification of Legionella pneumophila by competitive polymerase chain reaction 118. Mathematical modelling of biofilm dynamics 119. Ecological and biotechnological aspects of biofilm formation in waste water treatment 120. Characterisation of three aerobic bacteria isolated from NPEO-contaminated sludges 121. Degradation of the endocrine-disrupting dimethyl phthalate and dimethyl isophthalate by mangrove microorganisms 122. Quantification of microbial diversity in biofilms using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profile Innovative in situ remediation 123. Monitoring sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) using molecular tools during in situ immobilization of heavy metals 124. Effect of ORC-injections on in-situ BTEX-biodegradation and on the endogenous micro-organisms 125. Involvement of the microbial community of the groundwater-surface water-interface in bioremediation 126. Isolation and characterization of bacteria with possible use for groundwater decontamination in multibarrier system 127. Rapid biological treatment of residual DNAPL with slow release electron donor HRC-X™ 128. The efficacy of Oxygen Release Compound (ORC®): A nine year review 129. Applications of Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC®) for accelerated bioremediation 130. New generation in situ bioremediation technologies 131. Analysis of structural properties of a mining soil in a process of phytostabilisation Environmental genomics 132. Development and validation of a microarray for the identification of microorganisms responsible for bulking and foaming in WWTPs 133. Abundance of mobile genetic elements, antibiotic resistance traits, and catabolic genes in a BTEX contaminated aquifer measured by DNA microarray and culture-dependent analyses 134. Plasmid isolation and curing in gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis 135. Mobile genetic elements 136. Bacterial antibiotic resistance levels in agricultural soils as a result of treatment with pig slurry and detection of sulphonamide resistance genes 137. Investigation into microbial diversity and gene dissemination in the air of the International Space Station 138. Fate of endocrine disruptors in planted fixed bed reactors (PFR) 139. Modelling the biodegradation of treated and untreated waste and risk assessment of landfill gas emissions – SIMGASRISK 140. Modelling the biodegradation of treated and untreated waste and risk assessment of landfill leachate emissions Biosensing 141. Oral exposure to PAH: Bioactivation processes in the human gut 142. Titration biosensors for estimating the biochemical nitrate demand of municipal and industrial wastes Novel nitrogen removal 143. Activity of the granulated biomass of the mixed microbial culture for highly efficient carbon and nitrogen removal in the process wastewaters 144. Development and application of an Anammox activity test based on gas production 145. An anammox-like process in the waste water treatment of the coke-chemical plant 146. Determination of the nitrification kinetic parameters of sludges using a new tritation bioassay system: MARTINA 147. Effects of C/N value and DO on nitrification and denitrification in a novel hollow-fiber membrane biofilm reactor Managerial aspects and policies 148. New strategies for the development of environmental biosensors Solid waste and composting 149. Enrichment and characterization of iron and sulphur oxidizers from Indonesian and South African copper/gold mines 150. Influence of solid wastes in the mycelium growth of Lentinula edodes (berk.) Pegler 151. The role of structure in composting of sewage sludge and diatomite 152. Potential ammonia oxidation in a compost reactor treating source sorted organic household waste 153. COD and colour removal of pulp and paper mill effluent by adsorption on formaldehyde treated Keekar bark (Acacia nilotica) Biodegradation and bioremediation 154. Anaerobic 1,3-propanediol dissimilation by Desulfovibrio alcoholivorans and other Desulfovibrio species 155. Effect of MTBE on growth and metabolism of degrading microorganisms 156. Biodegradation of diesel oil by various environmental and specialized microflorae 157. Liquid and solid state NMR study of benzothiazole degradation by Rhodococcus isolates 158. Inoculated bioreactors for treatment of water contaminated with MTBE 159. Selection of liquid medium for biodegradation of RBB-R by white-rot fungi 160. Degradation of MTBE by soil isolates 161. The role of plant peroxidases in metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyls 162. Simultaneous hybrid processes as a way to improve characteristics of cultivation of micro-organisms and biodestruction of pollutants 163. Preliminary studies on application of immobilized microorganisms to petroleum hydrocarbons biodegradation 164. Growth physiology and biochemical storage characteristics of Microlunatus phosphovorus, a model organism for activated sludge systems 165. An innovative bioprocess that rapidly and completely dechlorinates chlorinated ethenes 166. Regulation of tetralin biodegradation genes 167. Cloning of bacterial PCB-degrading gene into the plants 168. Kinetics of phenol biodegradation by selected strains of bacteria 169. The effect of lead (Pb) on the growth and lignin degradation activity of selected litter-decomposing fungi 170. Glutathione reductase of Xanthomonas campestris: a unique enzyme and its physiological role 171. Effect of bioaugmentation and supplementary carbon sources on degradation of PAHs by a soil derived culture: a chemostat study 172. Fungal biofilms: upgrading the performance of biodegraders 173. Bioseparation of suspended solid and oil from palm oil mill effluent and secondary treatment by photosynthetic bacteria 174. Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by indigenous thermophilic bacteria carrying an alkane hydroxylase gene 175. Transformation of dichlobenil to 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) by soil bacteria harboring nitrile hydratases and amidases or nitrilases 176. Degradation of selected pesticides in aquatic ecosystem model 177. Determination of some oil oxidizing microorganisms for the Caspian water 178. Bacteria and the bioremediation of stone: The potential for saving cultural heritage 179. Engineered endophytic bacteria improve phytoremediation of water-soluble volatile organic pollutants Soils clean-up 180. Benzene degradation coupled with chlorate reduction 181. Biodegradation of xenobiotics 182. Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by actinomycetes 183. Monitoring of dehalogenating communities in contaminated soils and in combined anaerobic/aerobic soil biotreatment reactors 184. Elaboration of methods of bioremediation of contaminated soils on former military locations and proving grounds in Georgia 185. The determination of filamentous fungi in polluted soils as a first step in bioremediation process 186. Assessment of chemical and microbiological signatures during natural attenuation of gasoline-contaminated groundwater 187. The effect of vegetation on decrease of PAH and PCB content in long-term contaminated soil 188. Detection of polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading bacteria in soil 189. Biodegradation of diesel fuel in soil at low temperature by Rhodococcus erythropolis 190. Combined chelate induced phytoextraction and in situ soil washing of Cu 191. Combination of respirometry and indirect impedancemetry to evaluate the microbial activity of soils Gas treatment 192. The two-phase reactor water/silicon-oil: Prospects in the off-gas treatment 193. Systematical selection of a support material for hydrogen sulphide biofiltration 194. The monolith reactor – A novel reactor concept for biological gas purification 195. Formulation of biofiltration packing materials: Essential nutriment release for the biological treatment of odorous emissions 196. NO removal from flue gases: The kinetics of the oxidation ofFe2+ (EDTA) under typical BiodeNOx conditions 197. Control of biomass growth by nematode-grazing bacteria in a biofilter treating chlorobenzenes 198. A novel three-phase circulating-bed biofilm reactor for removing toluene from gas stream TBT (Tributyltin) 199. Alternative remediation techniques to cope with TBT 200. Remediation of TBT contaminated sediments – sludge dewatering as a pre-treatment before the thermal treatment Late posters 201. Remediation of oil shale chemical industry solid wastes using phytoremediation and bioaugmentation 202. Fate of the genetic diversity of a population of V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 through two wastewater treatment systems 203. Anaerobic biodegradability of mercaptans and effect of salt concentration

Biography

W. Verstraete