Biodegradation and Bioremediation [Hardcover]

Martin Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 1994 | ISBN-10: 012049860X | ISBN-13: 978-0120498604

This book presents the basic principles of biodegradation and shows how these principles relate to bioremediation. Authored by a world-renowned microbiologist, Biodegradation and Bioremediation considers microbiological, chemical, environmental, engineering, and technological aspects of the subject. The key general principles are presented in this single volume, designed for professionals and students who may be familiar with only one of the several disciplinesinvolved.

Explains scientific principles needed to understand biodegradation in soils and waters
Key Features
* Explains scientific principles needed to understand biodegradation in soils and waters
* Reviews scientific concepts important in bioremediation
* Covers topics in microbiology, chemistry, toxicology, and engineering relevant to biodegradation and bioremediation
* Considers recent developments in environmental sciences, microbiology, toxicology, and engineering in the context of the theory and application of bioremediation

Editorial Reviews

Review

Should serve well its intended audience [of] upper-division undergraduates through professional.
--SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Well organized into chapters that deal effectively with important topics related to the biological transformation of organic contaminants.
An excellent text for a course dealing specifically with biodegradation and bioremediation.
--MIGUEL L. CABRERA, University of Georgia
The author of this book has been a major player in the microbiological investigation of biodegradation throughout his long career and is thus a worthy author of this important book...especially timely and useful book. Acomprehensive and up-to-date review...Alexander has prepared a cogent and well organized review of the pronciples of biogradation in a book that should be useful to a great many people.
--JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Martin Alexanders approach distinguishes his book from the others. Biodegradation and Bioremediation, being a single-author book, provides a unity of style and, generally, an excellent intellectual flow between topics. All the necessary topics areincluded in the book, without repetition of concepts in different chapters...The author has kept with the tried and true and deemphasizes the molecular-biology approaches to biodegradation (e.g., development of genetically engineered bacteria and fungi)...However, Alexander does a spectacular job at addressing the kinetics of deradation reactions-the discussion in one of the best I have seen, especially for those not well versed in mathematics...Perhaps Biodegradation and Bioremediation can best serve as the glue binding together all the rest of the literature.
--MICHAEL A. GEALT--Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA--BIOSCIENCE, Volume 45, Number 9, October 1995
This is a very timely book that summarizes consisely much basic and general knowledge gained in the past 40 years. It is recommended as a valuable resource for environmental scientists, engineers, or other persons with an interest in the use of organisms for environmental decontamination and a need for better insight into the principles underlying bioremediation.
--SOIL SCIENCE
The book is well indexed, its diagrams are large and clear, and more than 900 up-to-date references to primary sources are provided. It will serve as an excellent text for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses and as an invaluable source of reference to all those with a research interest in this expanding field.
--SOCIETY FOR GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY QUARTERLY

About the Author

Martin Alexander, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, U.S.A. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press (April 20, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 012049860X
• ISBN-13: 978-0120498604
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,407,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A complex topic well explained, nicely written, April 1, 2011

By 

Pmac - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biodegradation and Bioremediation, Second Edition (Hardcover)

This is an excellent overview of the essential things any engineer, scientist or technologist would need to get a good initial grasp on the field of biodegradation. It's not overly complcated and deals more with theory than calculations. It came out in a second edition in 1999 so it should be updated with more on anaerobic biodegradation and phytoremediation. Overall though it's a great text that could easily be adopted for an intro level course on the topic. Microbiologists and environmental engineers would benefit from having this book.