Both theoretical and practical understanding of basic analytical methods used in

environmental technology and engineering focused on either microbiology or water

analysis. Practical experience with working in a laboratory.

Written examination with open questions, skills test, report

• M. T. Madigan, J. M. Martinko, and J. Parker. Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 11th

• Ed. Prentice Hall, 2005.

• M.M. Häggblom and I.D. Bossert. Dehalogenation: Microbial Processes and

• Environmental Applications. 2003. Kluwer Academic Publishers, London. 2003.

• H. L. Ehrlich. Geomicrobiology, 4th Edition, 2004.

• A.T. Bull, A.T. Microbial Diversity and Bioprospecting. 2004. ASM Press.

• Washington, D.C

• E.L. Madsen: Environmental Microbiology. 2008 Blackwell Publishing

Guided self-study, lecture, practicum, self-reliant study activities

Option microbiology

This course will involve 2 blocks of laboratory work:

1 Procedures for isoating bacteria with contaminants degrading activity:

1 • Isolation of consortia and individual bacteria with degradation abilities from

1 • contaminated soil - preparation and dilution of samples, bacteria cultivation,

1 • colony counting, Gram staining, microscopy, biochemical characterization of

1 • Gram-negative bacteria, identification of bacteria using MALDI-TOF MS, PCR-

1 • based detection of functional genes, agarose electrophoresis

2 Measurement of toxicity

1 • Ecotoxicity tests - as Bioscreen, Vibrio fischeri (luminescent bacteria) - and seed

1 • germination will be used for soil ecotoxicity measurements.

Option chemical analytical methods

This course will give introduction into the basic, most common laboratory techniques

used in analysis of drinkingwater, surface water or wastewater. It will involve:

1 Introduction into the lab and training on safety rules

2 Basic analytical skills (pipetting, weighing, titrations, preparing solutions etc.)

3 Gravimetric analytical methods

4 Volumetric analytical methods (neutralization capacity, chemical oxygen demand,

1 etc.)

5 Spectrophotometry (chemical oxygen demand, nitrite, nitrate, etc.)

6 Electrochemical methods (pH, redox potential, conductivity, biological oxygen

1 demand, etc.)