The several well established and novel biotechnologies are available to deal with environment control. Several aspects of their performance are still to be tested.
Scaling from says lab-scale to industrial-scale biotechnological process would encounter several limitations, one of the them is the mixing issue. In a lab-scale system, mixing is almost perfect but in an industrial-scale one, no amount of effort can truly ensure near perfect mixing is achieved - it's normally imperfect mixing. So, a good result obtained from the lab-scale equipment does not always lead to a good result in the industrial-scale one. One tool often used to address this mixing issue in scaling up is using CFD study.
There are so many limitations of these technologies. First one can not find any data of pollutants and its effect in deep waters, black waters, wet land, bottom garbages/pollutants in sedimentary or particulate pollutants. Similarly, in space biotechnological approaches are failed to recollect and enumerate the horizontal and transverse mixing of pollutants. There is a limitation of altered environmental or eco-climatic conditions. Effects of pollutants on physical and chemical environment is very hard to enumerate because many more modifications and expertise will be needed to find ESA.
I feel the biggest challenge in scaling biological sciences and biotechnology in India in environmental problem is lack of awareness. Still the biotechnology is primarily associated with enzyme for commercial application, medicine or agriculture. There is immense need of a transition to explore such amazing technology in most devastating problem we all are facing. The research and funding in biotechnology again largely goes to industrial use, medicine and agriculture sector. However, last one decade has some remarkable achievements in solving environment problem using biotechnology which further need to explore.
For me the biggest challenge is: difficulty in establishment of exactly same conditions in lab, as present in environment. In environment a number of factors are working together that include both abiotic and biotic factors(community genomics and proteomics). In labs we mostly study 1,2 or 3 factors and that too in not exactly the same ratio as in environment.
Uptill now we have failed in scaling up of biotechnological pollution indicators due to failure in application of results produced in microsoms/controlled conditions into the field.
In the continuing quest to relate microbial communities in bioreactors to function and environmental and operational conditions, engineers and biotechnologists have adopted the latest molecular and 'omic methods. Despite the large amounts of data generated, gaining mechanistic insights and using the data for predictive and practical purposes is still a huge challenge. We present a methodological framework that can guide experimental design, and discuss specific issues that can affect how researchers generate and use data to elucidate the relationships. We also identify, in general terms, bioreactor research opportunities that appear promising.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095816691500021X
Most of the biotechnical processes are slow reactions and the reaction time is very high compared to other industrial processes. High reaction time cause high capital cost. we need to optimize the capacity and the production rate. For high production rate, high capacity reactors needed, which require huge space.
Successful scale-up of any technology including biotechnology means a shortened cycle to full-scale production, competitive advantage, and cost savings. Scaling up biotechnology processes involves a distinctive set of enabling factors. Challenges like performance of large scale equipment, lack of information and data on workable models/pilot plant scale, unforeseen process steps, concrete comprehensive data to build trust, technology transfer and regulatory requirements. Solving these problems need to address issue like tank size and mixing requirements, temperature and pressure requirements, catalyst tuning and removal of catalyst poisons, variable feedstock compositions along with project management skills and strong determination for replacement of conventional technologies with industrial biotechnology processes.
Main limitations in bioremediation strategies are:
1) Lots of theoretical & Lab work ...less practical application
2) High end techniques & instruments are used only at laboratory level but not feasible at rural and urban level
3) High biological techniques (molecular methods & omics) are available but not available at commercial level (like biofertilizers in markets)
4) Effective microorganisms that can be used for bioremediation are patented and not available for commercial use.
5) Non-effective support and long working procedures from Government Organizations
** I am discussing one case study in state Punjab (India). Once a work was started in year around 2013-14 regarding bioremediation of river from industrial effluents. Tenders have been put and one party has got the chance to bioremediate the river but after 2-3 months the work stopped (or no news regarding the status of the process). The contractor said that Govt. has not released the installment of the project so we stopped working.
** There should be effective microorganisms available for commercial use like biofertilizers in market. Patent is necessary but I do not think the patented thing should be kept as safe deposit and not available for use/commercialization. There is no meaning for that patent when it s not available for people or environment. The commercialization of patents on some terms and conditions instead of making them safe deposit.
These are my observations. Thanks.
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