Microorganisms to Combat Pollution

This volume contains materials first presented at an international workshop on 'The Use of Microorganisms to Combat Pollution', held in Israel, May 10-18, 1992. Each of the contributors is an acknowledged expert on the treatment of one or more types of pollution using microorganisms or their enzymes. The subject coverage is broad, and most of the chapters are divided into three parts: (a) a general presentation of the source and toxicity of the pollutant; (b) a review of the current state of the art on the biodegradation of that pollutant; and (c) the author's unique research experience with the problem. In many cases, results from both laboratory and field trials are presented. The book thus contains not only the theoretical background on the biodegradation of pollutants, but also practical experience in applying this knowledge to the solution of significant pollution problems. The wide scope of the problems presented and discussed makes the book indispensable to all those who are interested in applied microbiology and the environmental sciences.