BIOLOGICAL-MATERIAL DEGRADATION - RECYCLING AND RECOVERY OF MATERIALS

Microorganisms have been used since many years to synthesize organic acids, solvents, vitamins, enzymes, etc. and for the cleaning of waste waters. Within the last decade a variety of biological techniques have been improved, not only for water treatment but also waste recycling and detoxifying contaminated materials. Techniques such as bioremediation, composting, and anaerobic fermentation have been developed. EMPA St. Gall department Biology is studying the transformation of organic compounds in bioremediation, composting, and anaerobic degradation processes. Our goal is to acquire more knowledge about the transformation of xenobiotics in contaminated soils and ground waters by bioremediation processes. We also focus our research on studying degradation processes of 'biodegradable polymers' under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Despite our research which has continued up to the present, there are many aspects still unknown. Our group is especially interested to study the chemical and microbial processes which occur during degradation of xenobiotics and biodegradable polymers under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Metabolites which were produced from xenobiotic compounds and biodegradable polymers under special transformation conditions will be analysed. Further more our intentions are to study and characterize the microorganisms involved in the degradation of these compounds.