The past 30 years have seen the emergence of a growing desire worldwide that positive actions be taken to restore and protect the environment from the degrading effects of all forms of pollution - air, water, soil, and noise. Since pollution is a direct or indirect consequence of waste production, the seemingly idealistic demand for "zero discharge" can be construed as an unrealistic demand for zero waste. However, as long as waste continues to exist, we can only attempt to abate the subsequent pollution by converting it to a less noxious form. Three major questions usually arise when a particular type of pollution has been identi ed: (1) How serious is the pollution? (2) Is the technology to abate it available? and (3) Do the costs of abatement justify the degree of abatement achieved? This book is one of the volumes of the Handbook of Environmental Engineering series. The principal intention of this series is to help readers formulate answers to the last two questions above. The traditional approach of applying tried-and-true solutions to speci c pollution problems has been a major contributing factor to the success of environmental engineering, and has accounted in large measure for the establishment of a "methodology of pollution control. " However, the realization of the ever-increasing complexity and interrelated nature of current environmental problems renders it imperative that intelligent planning of pollution abatement systems be undertaken. Volume 10: Environmental Biotechnology in the Handbook of Environmental Engineering series presents the theories and principles of various environmental biotechnologies. This outstanding collection of science information is designed as a basic Environmental Biotechnology textbook as well as a reference book for scientists, researchers, educators, and engineers. The book's expert panel of authors provides an introduction at a wide range of topics, including sanitary microbiology, microbial systematics, ecology, microbial metabolism, life support systems, solid-state processes and reactors, value-added biotechnology products, anaerobic processes, membrane bioreactors, space life support systems, biospherics, natural environmental systems, aerobic and anoxic biotechnologies, sequencing batch reactors, and flotation biological systems. Volume 10: Environmental Biotechnology and its sister book - Volume 11: Environmental Bioengineering - are indispensable as both basic biotechnology textbooks and comprehensive reference books for all environmentalists. Another gold-standard addition to The Humana Press series, Volume 10: Environmental Biotechnology gives readers a cutting-edge illustration of the theories and principles of biotechnologies, systems, processes, and methodologies. Coverage of basic and advanced environmental biotechnologies, systems, methodologies, and processes. Emphasis on detailed descriptions, introductions, theories, principles, classifications, and mechanisms of microbiology, ecology, life support systems, and biological processes. Reference of practical use to scientists, researchers, educators and engineers.   Contents Environmental biotechnology, microbiology, microbial systematics, ecology, metabolism, life support systems, solid-state processes andreactors, value-added biotechnology products, anaerobic suspended biological processes, membrane bioreactors, closed ecological systems, space life support systems, biospherics, natural environmental biotechnologies, aerobic processes, anoxic processes, suspended-growth processed, attached-growth processes, and flotation biological systems.