Microbes at Work: From Wastes to Resources

✍ Scribed by Heribert Insam, Ingrid Franke-Whittle, Marta Goberna (auth.), Heribert Insam, Ingrid Franke-Whittle, Marta Goberna (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 328
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Among the goals of environmentally sound waste treatment is the recycling of organic wastes. The most practiced options are composting and anaerobic digestion, both processes being carried out by microorganisms. This book provides an overview of the various ways microbes are doing their job and gives the reader an impression of their potential.

The sixteen chapters of this book summarize the advantages and disadvantages of treatment processes, whether they are aerobic like composting or work without oxygen like anaerobic digestion for biogas (methane) production. These chapters show the potential of microorganisms to create valuable resources from otherwise wasted materials. These resources include profitable organic, humus-like soil conditioners or fertilizer components which are often suppressive to plant diseases. Composts may thus improve soil carbon sequestration, or support sustainable agriculture by reducing the need for mineral fertilizers or pesticides. If anaerobic digestion is used, the biogas produced may replace fossil fuels. Thus, proper biological waste treatment with the help of microorganisms should contribute to a reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas production.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Microbes in Aerobic and Anaerobic Waste Treatment....Pages 1-34
Recent Developments in Bio-Energy Recovery Through Fermentation....Pages 35-58
Syntrophic Communities in Methane Formation from High Strength Wastewaters....Pages 59-77
Biogas Technology – Controlled Gas Flow for Enhanced Mixing, Heating, and Desulfurization....Pages 79-91
Vermicomposting: Earthworms Enhance the Work of Microbes....Pages 93-114
Compost Microbial Activity Related to Compost Stability....Pages 115-134
Utility of Molecular Tools in Monitoring Large Scale Composting....Pages 135-151
Production and Utilization of Suppressive Compost: Environmental, Food and Health Benefits....Pages 153-170
Sanitation by Composting....Pages 171-191
Microbial Antagonists in Animal Health Promotion and Plant Protection....Pages 193-211
Interactions Between Beneficial and Harmful Microorganisms: From the Composting Process to Compost Application....Pages 213-229
Compost Microbial Populations and Interactions with Plants....Pages 231-251
Soil Degradation and Rehabilitation: Microorganisms and Functionality....Pages 253-270
Do Composts Affect the Soil Microbial Community?....Pages 271-291
Production and Application of Bioorganic Fertilizers for Organic Farming Systems in Thailand: A Case Study....Pages 293-312
Challenges, Options and Future Research Needs....Pages 313-322
Back Matter....Pages 323-329

✦ Subjects

Microbiology; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Agriculture