Handbook of Environmental Microbiology (3 Vols. Set) (Hardbound-2008)

Environmental pollution control microbiology is an exciting and challenging area of science and engineering. It is concerned with protecting people from pathogenic micro-organisms and the application of microbiology to solve a wide range of environmental pollution problems. Both science and engineering are involved in pollution control. Scientists determine the environmental problems and evaluate different solutions, whereas engineers utilize the information supplied by scientists to design the most efficient systems to solve the environmental problems. The concept of environmental pollution control microbiology has its roots in conventional microbiology with concerns for pathogenic micro-organisms and public health. It can even be traced in chemistry, which forms the basis of all reactions between chemical compounds that make up our world, and in biochemistry, which focuses on the chemistry of biological systems. In fact, microbiology encompasses several scientific fields such as bacteriology, virology, mycology, phycology, protozoology, zoology, biotechnology and mathematics. Handbook of Environmental Microbiology in 3 volumes is the first reference textbook of its kind dealing with a broad spectrum of environmental pollution problems. Vol. 1 deals with topics such as environmental microbiology; public health microbiology; wastewater treatment; and microbial aspects of drinking water treatment. Vol. 2 deals with aeromicrobiology; soil, rhizosphere and phyllosphere; subsurface and landfills; acquatic environments; composting of agricultural residues by microbial methods; and disposal of organic wastes, etc. Vol. 3 covers environmental microbiology for chemical, food processing and metallurgical industry; biodegradation; biotransformation; and immobilization techniques and their industrial uses, etc. Glossary and Index have been provided at the end for quick reference, and text has been supplemented with exhibits and tables. All topics have been covered in a cogent and lucid style. This reference book is essential reading for the students, teachers and researchers on environmental science. It caters to the requirements of syllabi prescribed in various universities for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as those pursuing professional courses in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering and agricultural engineering. It is also a valuable source of information for policymakers, executives, industrialists and professionals concerned with environmental science, microbiology, biotechnology and life sciences.

S.C. Bhatia, a Chemical Engineer from BITS, Pilani and also an MBA, is a consultant on Environmental and Pollution Control, Energy Conservation and Polymer Sciences. He has worked in various petrochemical plants in production planning, maintenance, quality control, etc. He has authored books on subjects ranging from chemical process industries, plastic and rubber technology to perfume, soaps and cosmetics. His area of specialisation includes air and water pollution, energy conservation, rubber, plastics and bio-sciences. He has contributed numerous papers on chemical and allied subjects in journals of repute. Among his published books, Textbook of Noise Pollution and Its Control, Textbook of Biotechnology, Managing Industrial Pollution, Industrial Chemistry, Perfume Soap and Cosmetics and Chemical Process Industries have received overwhelming response.