Application of Biotechnology to Wastewater Treatments in Japan

The biotechnology including genetic engineering is expected to be applied to various fields of wastewater treatments in order to promote biological reaction rate, to grade up the effluent quality and to advance the stability of microorganisms against temperature, pH and toxic substances. The current topics in Japan on application of biotechnology to wastewater treatment will be reviewed at the beginning of the presentation. Next, the research of Biochemical Engineering Laboratory is to be presented, especially focused on the following subjects ; (1) Application of genetic engineering to the investiation of heavy metal uptake by the resistant bacteria of Hg Cd or Zn. (2) Relationship between sulfate reducing bacteria and wastewater treatment, offensive odor and corrosion of sewer tranks.