Recycling and Biorecovery of Waste Materials
Willy Verstraete & Jan B.A. Arends
Dad: I want to become a bio-engineer and contribute to the survival of the planet. Where do I start?
Microorganisms, like humans, survive by using available substances as food, converting them into cell materials for growth and reproduction. Through trial and error, combined with natural selection, they adapt and specialize in specific tasks over time.
In our industrial society, waste and byproducts require safe treatment. By studying natural processes, we can harness and enrich microorganisms to degrade waste or even recover raw materials from production. However, microorganisms act purely for their survival, not to benefit us. Bioengineers play a key role in creating systems where both humans and microorganisms benefit from waste processing and resource recovery.
While other frameworks discuss microorganisms in water treatment and biogas production, this one focuses on their role in promoting planetary sustainability through bioengineering.