Microbial Metabolism: Importance for Environmental Biotechnology

Abstract

TThis chapter provides a general overview of the metabolism of microorganisms, with special emphasis on the prokaryotic world. Processes such as oxygenic and anoxygenic From: Handbook of Environmental Engineering, Volume 10: Environmental Biotechnology Edited by: L. K.Wang et al., DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60327-140-0_5 c ? Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2010 193 194 A. Oren photosynthesis, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and chemolithotrophic metabolism are discussed. Finally, it is shown how these processes together enable the functioning of the biogeochemical cycles of the elements on Earth. KeyWords Prokaryotes ?metabolic diversity ?energy generation ?assimilatory metabolism ? oxygenic photosynthesis ? anoxygenic photosynthesis ? respiration ? anaerobic respiration ? fermentation ?methanogenesis ?chemoautotrophs ?biogeochemical cycles.