Microbiology

1. Rewrite the following statements using correct of the options

and explain the completed statements.
(gluconic acid, coagulation, amino acid, 4% acetic acid,
clostridium, lactobacilli)
a. Process of coagulation of milk proteins occurs due to
lactic acid.
Explanation: The lactobacilli are the bacteria carrying out
fermentation of the milk. In this process, the lactose
sugar in the milk is converted into lactic acid. This lactic
acid causes coagulation of the proteins present in the
milk.

b. Harmful bacteria like Clostridium in the intestine are

destroyed due to probiotics.
Explanation: In probiotics, there are lactobacilli which are
useful. They control other bacteria present in the
alimentary canal and also their metabolism. These
bacteria thus stop the action of Clostridium which is a
harmful bacteria.

c. Chemically, vinegar is 4% Acetic acid.

Explanation: Chemically vinegar is 4% acetic acid. It is a
good preservative of the food and thus while using it as
additive to the food, it is called vinegar.

d. Salts which can be used as supplement of calcium and

iron are obtained from Gluconic acid.
Explanation: The microbe Aspergillus niger is used on the
source material of glucose and corn steep liquor to
produce amino acid called Gluconic acid. Gluconic acid is
used for the production of minerals used as supplement
for calcium and iron.

2. Match the pairs (answers)

(1)Xylitol – To impart sweetness
(2) Citric acid – To impart acidity
(3) Lycopene – Pigment
(4) Nycin – Microbial restrictor.

3. Answer the following:

a. Which fuels can be obtained by microbial processes? Why
is it necessary to increase the use of such fuels?
 Microbial anaerobic decomposition of urban agricultural
and industrial waste forms the gaseous fuel in the form of
methane gas.
 Alcohol is another clean form of energy which is used in
the form of ethanol. It is obtained by the fermentation of
molasses by treating it with Saccharomyces-yeast.
 By photoreduction of water with the help of bacteria,
hydrogen gas is released in the process of bio-photolysis
of water. This hydrogen gas is said to be the fuel of the
future.
 The conventional fuels are exhaustible. After few hundred
years, they will be over completely. Moreover, these
fossil fuels cause lot of air pollution due to emission of
carbon dioxide. The fuels obtained by the microbial
processes are not polluting. Therefore, it is necessary to
increase the use of eco-friendly fuels.

b. How can the oil spills of rivers and oceans be cleaned?

 The oil spills in rivers or oceans are caused by crude oil or

petroleum hydrocarbons.
 This crude oil is highly toxic to the flora and fauna of the
aquatic environment.
 By using mechanical means the oil spill can be removed,
but this is very difficult.
 The biological way to remove this pollution is done by
using culture of microbes like Pseudomonas spp. and
Alcanovorax borkumensis.
 They have the ability to destroy the pyridines and other
chemicals present in the hydrocarbons.
 These bacteria are called as hydrocarbono-clastic
bacteria (HCB) which decompose the hydrocarbons and
bring about the reaction of carbon with oxygen.
 In the process CO2 and water are formed. In this way the
oil spills are cleaned, by releasing HCB at the place of oil
spills.

c. How can the soil polluted by acid rain be made fertile

again?

 The soil polluted by the acid rain is made fertile again by

using bacteria.
 Acidophillium spp. and Acidobacillus ferroxidens are the
bacteria which have the capacity to use sulphuric acid as
their energy source.
  Since this sulphuric acid present in the acid rain, can be
controlled by these bacteria.
 In this way, bacteria can control the soil pollution
occurring due to acid rain, making the soil fertile again.

d. Explain the importance of bio pesticides in organic

farming.

 By using bio pesticides, soil pollution is minimized.

Otherwise by using chemical pesticides and fertilizers
there is large scale soil pollution.
 When chemical pesticides are used in agriculture, there is
contamination of soil by fluoroacetamide – like chemicals.
 These are harmful to other plants, animals as well as for-
human beings. They may cause skin diseases in humans.
 By using bacterial and fungal toxins the pests and
pathogens can be destroyed. Such toxins are directly
incorporated in the plant materials.
E.g. Spinosad is a biopesticide produced as a by-product
of fermentation.

e. What are the reasons for increasing the popularity of

probiotic products?

 Probiotic substances are mostly milk products containing

live bacteria. Such probiotics are very good for health.
 The useful colonies of bacteria are produced in the
alimentary canal of human beings due to the probiotics.
 Probiotics decrease the population of harmful microbes
like. Clostridium from our digestive tract.
 The immunity is enhanced due to regular intake of
probiotics in the diet.
 The ill-effects of harmful substances formed during
metabolic activities are reduced by the probiotics.
 If someone takes the antibiotic treatment, then his or her
useful intestinal bacterial flora becomes inactive or is
eradicated. In such cases, probiotics restore the bacterial
flora and make the person well again.
All these facts have made probiotics a popular choice for people.

f. How the bread and other products produced using

baker’s yeast are nutritious?

 In order to make the bread the baker’s yeast –

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is added to the flour for the
fermentation process.
 In commercial bakery, compressed yeast is used while in
domestic settings dry, granular form of yeast is used.
 The flour prepared by using commercial yeast contains
various useful contents like carbohydrates, fats, proteins,
various vitamins, and minerals.
 The anaerobic fermentation also increases the nutritive
content of the flour.
 Due to this, bread and other products produced with the
help of yeast become nutritive.

g. Which precautions are necessary for proper

decomposition of domestic waste?

The domestic waste should be properly segregated into

biodegradable (wet waste) and non-biodegradable (dry
waste). After segregation, these wastes should be stored
separately into two different containers. The non-
biodegradable substances should he either reused or
sent for recycling. The biodegradable substances are
decomposed naturally.
The decomposition process can be done at house-hold
level too in a pot or a tank. This decomposition will yield
a rich manure. The pot should be covered by a thin layer
of soil and it should be kept in a dark but airy place.
The non-biodegradable things such as plastic articles,
glass pieces, metal objects, unused 5 medicines, e-waste
should never be thrown in wet wastes. The toxic
substances and the insecticides if added to wet waste,
will never allow the natural decomposition process.
Therefore, only after taking proper precautions we can
aim at proper decomposition of domestic wastes.

h. Why is it necessary to ban the use of plastic bags?

Plastic is a non-biodegradable substance. It cannot be

degraded back into its original constituents. It remains
just like that for many hundreds of years. It causes solid
waste pollution in any environment wherever it is thrown
indiscriminately. If burnt, it releases very toxic gases. If
dumped in landfills it obstructs the other decomposition
processes.
If thrown in water bodies, it causes harm to aquatic life.
Cattle graze on plastic unknowingly and are killed by it as
it clogs inside their alimentary canal. The gutters and rain
water drains get clogged due to plastic bags and this
causes cities to submerge in water during heavy rains.
 Nowadays, the fishermen get more than half of plastic if
they cast their net in the sea.
People use the plastic bags indiscriminately without any
thought towards their environmental impact. There are
better alternatives for plastic bags such as cloth bags
which can be reused again and again. Therefore, it is
absolutely necessary to ban the use of plastic bag.

4. Complete the following conceptual picture.

5. Give scientific reasons.

a. Use of mutant strains has been increased in industrial
microbiology.

 By using industrial microbiology, the commercial use of

microbes is done.
 In such experiments, various economic, social and
environment related processes and products are
included.
 In this, fermentation processes are used to make bread,
cheese, wines, enzymes, nutrients, etc.
 Different types of antibiotics are also made by using
processes of industrial microbiology.
 In pollution control and solid waste management, the
industrial microbiology becomes helpful.
 In farming too biotechnology is used to produce BT crops.

b. Enzymes obtained by microbial process are mixed with

detergents.

 When detergents are mixed with microbial enzymes, they

start working more efficiently.
 The cleaning process takes place at lesser temperatures.
 Therefore, for better results, enzymes obtained by
microbial process are mixed with detergents.

c. Microbial enzymes are used instead of chemical catalysts

in chemical industry. (March 2019)
(OR)
 Microbial enzymes are said to be eco-friendly.

 Microbial enzymes are active at low temperature, pH and

pressure.
 Due to this property, the energy is saved. The costlier
erosion-proof instruments need not be used.
 In enzymatic reactions, the unnecessary byproducts are
not formed as the reactions are highly specific.
 The expenses on purification of the product are
minimized as no unnecessary products are formed.
 The elimination and decomposition of waste material is
avoided and enzymes can be reused again. Hence,
microbial enzymes which are eco¬friendly are used in
chemical industry.

6. Complete the following conceptual picture with respect to its

uses. (Board’s Model Activity Sheet)

7. Complete the following conceptual picture related to

environmental management.

8. Answer the following questions.

a. What is the role of microbes in compost production?

 Microbes can bring about natural decomposition of the

organic compounds.
 During the biodegradation, some bacteria andmfungi
bring about such decomposition and release the
inorganic constituents back into the nature.
 Compost is formed in such a way by recycling process.
 b. What are the benefits of mixing ethanol with petrol and
diesel?

When only diesel or petrol is used as fuel, there is

increased air pollution. Moreover, since these are non-
renewable and exhaustible fuels, they will be finished in
next some years. When petrol and diesel is mixed with
ethanol, the proportion of CO2, CO, and hydrocarbons
which are emitted in the atmosphere becomes lesser.
The particulate pollutants which otherwise are emitted
through combustion of petrol and diesel are not formed
when fuels are mixed with ethanol. By adding ethanol to
the fuels, the cost of expensive petrol or diesel also
becomes less. The ethanol burns more efficiently hence
ethanol is mixed with petrol and diesel.

c. Which plants are cultivated to obtain the fuel?

 The ethanol is obtained from wheat, maize, beet,

sugarcane and molasses of sugarcane.
 For biodiesel, the soybean, rapeseed, jatropa, mahua,
flaxseed, mustard, sunflower, palm, jute and some types
of algae are cultivated.

d. Which fuels are obtained from biomass?

From biomass, the biogas and biodiesel are mainly
obtained. The biogas is obtained from dung of cattle. The
fermentation of cattle dung gives rise to methane. From
methane, methanol is obtained. Ethanol is obtained from
molasses of sugarcane and some other crops. In some
countries, special crops are cultivated for the biodiesel.

e. How does the bread become spongy?

 When the dough for bread is prepared, the baker’s yeast

– Saccharomyces cerevisiae is added to it.
 This yeast carries out anaerobic fermentation.
 This results in formation of CO2 and ethanol.
 The CO2 formed tries to escape out of the flour and thus
the dough rise. When such dough is baked, it produces
spongy bread.

Why is it asked to segregate wet and dry waste in each home?

The wet waste decomposes on its own as most of the matter therein
is biodegradable. This waste can be converted into manure by
composting. The dry waste can be picked up by the bhangarwala or
kabadiwala. This waste can be reused or recycled. Therefore, if dry
and wet wastes are kept separately, the solid waste management
becomes much easier.
On the contrary if everything is dumped indiscriminately, it adds to
the total volume of the solid wastes. This becomes unmanageable.
Therefore, to reduce the problems of solid waste management, the
dry and wet waste segregation must be done at every point source.
This also could fetch wealth from waste.

What is done with the segregated waste?

In big cities, there is a mechanism to pick up the solid waste every
day or even twice a day at some places. The segregated garbage is
taken by the municipal garbage trucks at the land filling sites. Here
it is buried deep in the ground. The dry waste that can be reused or
recycled, is sold to the recycling units.

Which is most appropriate method of disposal of dry waste?

Reuse and recycle is the most appropriate method of disposal of dry
waste.

Choose the correct alternative and write its alphabet against the
sub-question number:
1. Enzyme ……….. obtained from fungi is used to produce
vegetarian cheese.
(a) lipase (b) protease (c) amylase (d)
trypsin

2. Milk is subjected to ………… at the beginning to destroy

unwanted microbes.
(a) pasteurization (b) fermentation
(c) coagulation (d) decomposition

3. ………….. like compounds are formed due to lactobacilli that

gives characteristic taste to the yoghurt.
(a) Lactose (b) Caesin (c) Acetyldehyde (d)
All the above

4. Methane can be obtained by …………. decomposition of urban

agricultural and industrial waste.
(a) aerobic (b) anaerobic (c) microbial anaerobic
(d) chemical

5. ……….. gas is considered to be the fuel of future.

(a) Hydrogen (b) Nitrogen (c) Methane (d)
Butane
6. ………. are mixed with waste materials at land-filling sites for
quicker decomposition.
(a) Microbes (b) Bioreactors(c) Fungi (d)
Worms

7. …………. bacteria decompose the xenobiotic chemicals present

in sewage.
(a) Hydrocarbonoclastic (b) Decomposing
(c) E.coli (d) Phenol oxidizing

8. Microbes are used for ………… of environment polluted due to

sewage.
(a) protection (b) conservation.
(c) bioremediation (d) decomposition

9. ……….. is a powerful antibiotic against tuberculosis.

(a) Streptomycin (b) Tetracycline
(c) Rifamycin (d) Bacitracin

10. Bacteria are used to clear the oil spills are called
………….. bacteria.
(a) phenol oxidizing (b) electrolytic
(c) hydrocarbonoclastic (d) decomposing

11. ………… convert these salts of uranium into insoluble

salts.
(a) Saccharomyces (b) Thiobacillus
(c) Acidobacillus (d) Geobacter

12. ………….., a byproduct of fermentation is a biopesticide.

(a) Fluoroacetamide (b) Vanillin
(c) Aspertame (d) Spinosad

13. …………. beverage is obtained by fermentation of apple

juice. (July ’19)
(a) Cider (b) Wine (c) Coffee (d) Cocoa

14. Vinegar is the chemically ………… acid. (Board’s Model

Activity Sheet)
(a) Citric (b) Gluconic (c) Glutamic (d)
Acetic

15. In which of the following industries microbial enzymes are

not used?
(a) Glass industry (b) Cheese industry
(c) Tanning industry (d) Paper industry
 16. Citric acid used in production of beverages, toffees,
chocolates is obtained by fermentation of …….. by Aspergillus
niger.
(a) grapes (b) sugar molasses
(c) apple (d) coffee nuts

Find the odd one out:

1. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium
bifidum, Streptococcus thermophilus
Streptococcus thermophilus. (All others are bacteria producing
probiotics.)

2. Lactobacillus lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidtim, Lactobacillus

cremoris, Streptococcus thermophilus
Bifidobacterium bifidum. (All others are bacteria used in
cheese production.)

3. Dark chocolate, Miso soup, Wafers, Corn syrup

Wafers. (All others are probiotic products.)
4. Vinegar, Soya sauce, Ketchup, Monosodium glutamate
Ketchup. (All others are products prepared by microbial
fermentation.)

5. Actinomycetes, Streptomyces, Nocardia, yeast

Yeast. (All others have ability of decomposing rubber from
garbage.)

Find the correlation:

1. Bread Baker’s yeast : : Soya sauce : Aspergillus oryzae
2. Coffee : Coffea arabica : : Cocoa : Theobroma cacao
3. Oil slick : Alcanovorax : Rubber from garbage :
Actinomycetes
4. Conversion of metals into comounds : Thiobacilli : :
Conversion of uranium salts Geobacter.

Name the following:

1. Microbial enzymes - Oxidoreductases, transferases,
hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, ligases.
2. Emulsifiers. - Polysaccharides and glycolipids.
3. Microbe used in preparation of wine and cider - Saccharomyces
cerevisiae.
4. Effective antibiotic against tuberculosis - Rifamycin.
5. Antibiotics - Penicillin, cephalosporins, monobactam,
erythromycin, gentamycin, neomycin, streptomycin,
tetracyclins, vancomycin.
 6. Bacteria that use sulphuric acid as source of energy -
Acidobacillus ferroxidens, Acidophillium spp.
7. Substance that makes biodegradable plastic - Polylactic acid.
8. Curd like food product made from sheep milk - Kefir.
9. Enzyme used to make vegetarian cheese - Protease.
10. Fungus used for making soya sauce - Aspergillus oryzae.

Complete the charts:

Fruit Microbe used Name of beverage

Caffea arabica Lactobacillus brevis Coffee
Candida, Hansenula,
Theobroma cacao Pichia, Saccharomyces Cocoa
Saccharomyces
Grapes cerevisiae Wine
Saccharomyces
Apple cerevisiae Cider

Source Microbe Amino acid Use

Brevibacterium Production of
Sugar and beet , monosodium
molasses, Corynobacteriu glutamate
ammonia salt m L-glutamic acid (Ajinomoto).
Drinks, toffees,
Sugar Aspergillus chocolate
molasses, salt niger Citric acid production.
Production of
minerals used
as supplement
Glucose, corn Aspergillus for calcium and
steep liquor niger Gluconic acid iron.
Source of
nitrogen,
Molasses, corn Lactobacillus production of
steep liquor delbrueckii Lactic acid vitamins.
Paper, textile,
plastic
Molasses, corn Aspergillus industry, gum
steep liquor itaconius Itaconic acid production

Source Microbe Amino acid

(1) Sugar molasses
and salt Aspergillus niger Citric acid
(2) Molasses, corn Lactobacillus
steep liquor delbrueckii Lactic acid
(3) Corn steep liquor Aspergillus itaconius Itaconic acid

Answer the following questions:

1. Which microbes are used in the baking industries? (Board’s
Model Activity Sheet)
Yeast i.e. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used in the baking
industries.
2. There is an oil layer on the water surface of river in your area.
What will you do? (March 2019)
If there is an oil layer on the water surface, we shall use
hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria like Pseudomonas to clean up the
oil spill.
3. (a) How are microbes used in sewage management?
(b) How is the sludge produced in this process utilized?
(Board’s Model Activity Sheet)

(a)
 In cities, the sewage is sent to processing plant and is
treated with microbes.
 Microbes that carry out decomposition, are mixed with
sewage. Such microbes are able to destroy, pathogens as
well as decompose any compounds.
 Some microbes bring about bioremediation of
environment, that are used for treating sewage pollution.
 Upon decomposition of the carbon compounds present in
sewage, microbes release methane and CO2.
(b) The sludge formed in this process, is used as fertilizer.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is clean technology?

Clean technology is the method to use microbes for controlling
air, soil and water pollution. These microbes can degrade the
manmade chemicals.

2. Why is it essential to ban plastic bags?

Plastic is a non-biodegradable substance. It cannot be
degraded back into its original constituents. It remains just like
that for many hundreds of years. It causes solid waste pollution
in any environment wherever it is thrown indiscriminately. If
 burnt, it releases very toxic gases. If dumped in landfills it
obstructs the other decomposition processes.
If thrown in water bodies, it causes harm to aquatic life. Cattle
graze on plastic unknowingly and are killed by it as it clogs
inside their alimentary canal. The gutters and rain water drains
get clogged due to plastic bags and this causes cities to
submerge in water during heavy rains. Nowadays, the
fishermen get more than half of plastic if they cast their net in
the sea.
People use the plastic bags indiscriminately without any
thought towards their environmental impact. There are better
alternatives for plastic bags such as cloth bags which can be
reused again and again. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to
ban the use of plastic bag.

Write short notes on the following:

Production of Yoghurt.

 Yoghurt is one of the milk product produced from milk

with the help of lactobacilli (inoculant).
 In the industrial production of yoghurt, the milk is added
with condensed milk powder. This increases the protein
content of the milk. Then this milk is subjected to
fermentation.
 Milk is boiled and then it is cooled till it becomes
lukewarm.
 Then the bacterial strains of Streptococcus thermophiles
and Lactobacillus delbrueckii are added to this lukewarm
milk in 1:1 proportion.
 The Streptococcus bacteria convert the milk into solution
containing lactic acid. This makes the proteins to gel out.
It makes the yoghurt dense.
 The lactobacilli help in the formation of acetaldehyde like
compounds giving a characteristic taste to the yoghurt.
 For commercial reasons, various fruit juices are mixed
with yoghurt to impart different flavours forming
strawberry yoghurt, banana yoghurt, etc.
 The pasteurization is carried out to increase the shelf life
of yoghurt and improve its probiotic properties.

Production of cheese.
Cheese is made from cow’s milk throughout the world. The steps in
the process of cheese manufacture are as follows:
 Chemical and microbiological testing of milk is done.
 Three types of bacteria, viz. Lactobacillus lactis,
Lactobacillus cremoris and Streptococcus thermophilus
along with some colour is added to the milk.
 It imparts sourness to the milk and it is converted into
yoghurt like substance.
 The water from this yoghurt, i.e. whey is not removed to
make the yoghurt denser.
 Enzyme, rennet or protease is added to the mixture to
make it more denser.
 Later cutting the solid yoghurt into pieces, washing,
rubbing, salting, land mixing of essential microbes,
pigments and flavours is done in suitable steps.
 The pressed cheese is then cut in to pieces and stored for
ripening.

Land-filling sites.

 In the land-filling sites the degradable wastes are

transferred. Usually such sites are in urban areas.
 The land-filling sites are away from the residential areas
for the hygienic reasons. Here large pits arb dug in open
spaces.
 These pits are lined with plastic sheets. Therefore, the
leaching of toxic and harmful materials is avoided to
reduce the chance of soil pollution due to leachates.
 Compressed waste is put in the pit and is covered with
layers of soil, saw dust, leafy waste.
 Specific biochemical substances are added for speedy
decomposition.
 Bioreactors which are mixtures of bacteria are mixed at
some places.
 Soil microbes and other top layers decompose the waste.
 Soil slurry is used to seal the pits completely.
 After a certain period, best quality compost is formed.
Such land filling sites can be reused after removal of
compost.

Complete the paragraph by choosing the appropriate words given in

the brackets:
(Nocardia, Geobacter, Ideonella sakaiensis, Pseudomonas,
Alcanovorax borkumensis, hydrocarbonoclastic, Acidophillium,
streptomyces)
Bacteria like Pseudomonas spp. and Alcanovorax borkumensis have
the ability to destroy the pyridines and other chemicals. Hence,
these bacteria are used to clear the oil spills. These are
called hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria. It has been observed that
species like Vibrio, Ideonella sakaiensis can decompose the PET.
Similarly, species of fungi like Nocardia have ability of decomposing
rubber from garbage. Sulphuric acid is source of energy for some
species of bacteria like Acidophillium. Hence, these bacteria can
control the soil pollution occurring due to acid
rain. Geobacter convert the salts of uranium into insoluble salts.

Read the paragraph and answer the questions given below:

Remediation is the process of removing dangerous or poisonous
substances from the environment, or limiting the effect that they
have on it. When any biological organism is used for remediation, it
is called bioremediation. When plant species are used for the
purpose of remediation, it is called phytoremediation. When any
microbes are used then it is named as microbial remediation. The
methods of such remediation have helped to clean the environment
from toxic effluents, especially sewage and crude oil. Dr. Anand
Chakraborty, a scientist of Indian origin, has worked on
Pseudomonas aeruginosa which have reduced the crude oil films
into carbon dioxide and water.
Questions and Answers:
1. What is the meaning of remediation?
Remediation is the process by which dangerous or toxic
substances are removed from the environment.
2. What is the difference between phytoremediation and
microbial remediation?
When any plant species are used for remediation process, then
it is called phytoremediation, whereas when any microbe
species used for remediation then it is called microbial
remediation.
3. Which environmental pollutant is mainly removed through
bioremediation processes?
Toxicants released through sewage and crude oil are removed
by bioremediation processes.
4. What is the role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa helps in bioremediation by acting on
film of crude oil and reduces it to carbon dioxide and water.
5. Why Dr. Anand Chakraborty’s work phenomenal?
Dr. Anand Chakraborty discovered that Pseudomonas
aeruginosa bacteria can act on oil film which is toxic and
reduce it to nontoxic products. This helps in controlling the oil
pollution of marine waters which otherwise is very difficult to
control.
Diagram based questions:
Observe the diagram and answer the following questions:

(a) Name the following method of solid waste management.

The above diagram shows modern landfill site. This method is used
for solid waste management.
(b) What type of waste is used in this method?
In this method only degradable waste matter collected in cities can
be used. Such solid waste can undergo biodegradation and hence
can be managed in an eco-friendly way.
(c) What kind of useful substances can be obtained from such
methods?
From such decomposition, organic fertilizers and manure formed
through composting are obtained. Methane gas is also obtained
which is used as fuel.

Observe the Figure 7.1 and answer the following questions: (March
2019)

(a) Identify the process shown in the figure.

The figure shows modern land fill site where microbial
biodegradation process is carried out.
(b) Explain the process in short.
Land-filling sites:
 In the land-filling sites the degradable wastes are
transferred. Usually such sites are in urban areas.
 The land-filling sites are away from the residential areas
for the hygienic reasons. Here large pits arb dug in open
spaces.
 These pits are lined with plastic sheets. Therefore, the
leaching of toxic and harmful materials is avoided to
reduce the chance of soil pollution due to leachates.
 Compressed waste is put in the pit and is covered with
layers of soil, saw dust, leafy waste.
 Specific biochemical substances are added for speedy
decomposition.
 Bioreactors which are mixtures of bacteria are mixed at
some places.
 Soil microbes and other top layers decompose the waste.
 Soil slurry is used to seal the pits completely.
 After a certain period, best quality compost is formed.
Such land filling sites can be reused after removal of
compost.

Activity based questions:

Textbook page no. 84
(i) Which materials should not be present in garbage for its proper
microbial decomposition?
If there are non-biodegradable materials in the garbage, they will
not decompose. The plastic, glass, metals etc. will not undergo
microbial decomposition, therefore, such items should not be- there
in the garbage. The toxic matter, hazardous chemicals and e-waste
should also be removed. If such materials are present in the
garbage, the microbes will be killed and the entire process of
decomposition will be suffered.

(ii) How the sewage generated in your house or apartment is

disposed off ?
The sewage generated in our house is carried by the drainage pipes
to municipal sewage treatment plants. Here, primary, secondary and
tertiary treatment is done on the sewage. The safe water is then
released into the ocean.

(Textbook page no. 83)

Observe the garbage vans of gram panchayat and municipality.
Nowadays, there is facility of decreasing the volume of garbage by
compaction in those vans. Explain the advantages of this activity.
When the garbage is compressed, its volume is reduced. The trips of
the vans that pick up the garbage can be reduced due to such
measures. The land filling sites can also accommodate more
garbage if it is compacted.
Observe the figure and answer the following:

(i) Lack of management of which factor is shown in the picture?

The above picture shows the lack of management of sewage
resulting in waste water being dumped carelessly.
(ii) How can that factor be managed with the help of microbes?
Microbes which can destroy the pathogens of cholera, typhoid, etc.
are mixed with sewage. They release methane and CO 2 by
decomposition of the carbon compounds present in sewage. Other
microbes that decompose chemical compounds are also released.
Phenol oxidizing bacteria decompose the xenobiotic chemicals
present in sewage.
(iii) How are the oil spills in oceans cleared?
Hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria like
Alcanivorax borkumensis and Pseudomonas are used to clear the oil
spillage from ocean water. These bacteria decompose the
hydrocarbons. They bring about the reaction of released carbon with
oxygen to produced CO2 and water.