An Overview of Microbial Transformations

Abstract

Microorganisms dominate environmental biotechnology and anyone contemplating research into or the application of environmental biotechnology must have a thorough grounding in microbial physiology and biochemistry. A number of excellent textbooks on these subjects are available, some of which emphasize the biochemical aspects of the subject. Here I intend to provide a summary of microbial metabolism and the role of microorganisms in the major environmental cycles. I will hope to provide a useful reference source for those who have only a limited knowledge of environmental microbiology. This Chapter will also hopefully provide a simple introduction to environmental microbiology for those engineers and geologists, who have only a limited knowledge of how microorganisms grow and function.