Question 1

Describe the general processes that occur in a sludge digester.What is an advantage of sludge digestion over activated sludge?

Accepted Answer

Secondary anaerobic wastewater treatments such as the use of sludge digesters or bioreactors involve fermentation reactions to degrade insoluble organic material like cellulose and fiber.The insoluble matter is first solubilized by anaerobes,and products such as acetate are released.Ultimately,methanogens carry the treatment process to completion by converting acetate into methane and CO₂.An advantage is that the methane produced can be burned as a fuel for heat or energy and less sludge is produced in relation to the amount of organic material degraded.

Question 2

Synthetic plastics are

Accepted Answer

A)  oxidized completely to carbon dioxide after a few years under aerobic conditions. 
B)  partially degraded into branched chain and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. 
C)  degraded slowly under anoxic conditions. 
D)  extremely recalcitrant to microbial degradation. 
A)  oxidized completely to carbon dioxide after a few years under aerobic conditions. 
B)  partially degraded into branched chain and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. 
C)  degraded slowly under anoxic conditions. 
D)  extremely recalcitrant to microbial degradation. B

Question 3

Which of the following hydrocarbon compounds are MOST recalcitrant?

Accepted Answer

A)  straight-chain hydrocarbons 
B)  ethane 
C)  polycyclic hydrocarbons 
D)  propane 
A)  straight-chain hydrocarbons 
B)  ethane 
C)  polycyclic hydrocarbons 
D)  propane C

Question 4

The propagation cycle that occurs in acid mine drainage is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  reduction of Fe³⁺ by sulfuric acid. 
B)  the oxidation of sulfide to sulfuric acid by microbial oxidation of iron (Fe³⁺). 
C)  microbial sulfate reduction. 
D)  low pH and high oxygen concentrations. 
A)  reduction of Fe³⁺ by sulfuric acid. 
B)  the oxidation of sulfide to sulfuric acid by microbial oxidation of iron (Fe³⁺). 
C)  microbial sulfate reduction. 
D)  low pH and high oxygen concentrations.

Question 5

Which of the following is the first,or initiator,reaction in acid mine drainage and leaching?

Accepted Answer

A)  oxidation of reduced sulfides to sulfate and the release of reduced iron (Fe²⁺) 
B)  rapid spontaneous reduction of oxidized iron (Fe³⁺) 
C)  rapid oxidation of sulfides to sulfate by oxidized iron (Fe³⁺) 
D)  microbial sulfate reduction 
A)  oxidation of reduced sulfides to sulfate and the release of reduced iron (Fe²⁺) 
B)  rapid spontaneous reduction of oxidized iron (Fe³⁺) 
C)  rapid oxidation of sulfides to sulfate by oxidized iron (Fe³⁺) 
D)  microbial sulfate reduction

Question 6

If you were in charge of preserving ancient stone ruins and sculptures in an outdoor environment,what strategies would you use to prevent deterioration of the stone?

Accepted Answer

Biodeterioration is important to the ove

Question 7

Based on your knowledge of hydrocarbon degradation,what factors most likely limited the rate of petroleum degradation after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska?

Accepted Answer

A)  salt concentration 
B)  temperature 
C)  inorganic nutrient concentrations 
D)  temperature and inorganic nutrient concentrations 
A)  salt concentration 
B)  temperature 
C)  inorganic nutrient concentrations 
D)  temperature and inorganic nutrient concentrations

Question 8

Trace the flow of raw water through a typical drinking water purification scheme.

Accepted Answer

Figure 21.19b illustrated in t

Question 9

Microbial immobilization is the best strategy for uranium bioremediation,because

Accepted Answer

A)  uranium is difficult to chemically oxidize. 
B)  uranium contamination is widespread and thus difficult to physically remove. 
C)  the by-products of chemical immobilization are toxic. 
D)  immobilization may only be temporary. 
A)  uranium is difficult to chemically oxidize. 
B)  uranium contamination is widespread and thus difficult to physically remove. 
C)  the by-products of chemical immobilization are toxic. 
D)  immobilization may only be temporary.

Question 10

Which of the following bacterial pathogens is found in water distribution systems?

Accepted Answer

A)  Enterobacter aerogenes 
B)  Klebsiella pneumoniae 
C)  Legionella pneumophila 
D)  Vibrio cholerae 
A)  Enterobacter aerogenes 
B)  Klebsiella pneumoniae 
C)  Legionella pneumophila 
D)  Vibrio cholerae

Question 11

Microbes are involved in which step(s)of wastewater treatment?

Accepted Answer

A)  primary only 
B)  secondary and tertiary 
C)  secondary only 
D)  primary and secondary 
A)  primary only 
B)  secondary and tertiary 
C)  secondary only 
D)  primary and secondary

Question 12

Reductive dechlorination is a process in which

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of chlorine atoms present is reduced by oxygenase enzymes. 
B)  chlorinated organics are used as terminal electron acceptors in anaerobic respiration. 
C)  carbon dioxide is the final end product. 
D)  xenobiotics are cometabolized with other reductive reactions. 
A)  the number of chlorine atoms present is reduced by oxygenase enzymes. 
B)  chlorinated organics are used as terminal electron acceptors in anaerobic respiration. 
C)  carbon dioxide is the final end product. 
D)  xenobiotics are cometabolized with other reductive reactions.

Question 13

Fungi are the main contributor to the biodeterioration of stone building materials and concrete wastewater distribution systems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which group of organisms is thought to be responsible for the corrosion of submerged metal structures and oil pipelines?

Accepted Answer

A)  fermentative microorganisms 
B)  acidophilic iron-oxidizers 
C)  sulfate reducers 
D)  hydrocarbon-degrading anaerobes 
A)  fermentative microorganisms 
B)  acidophilic iron-oxidizers 
C)  sulfate reducers 
D)  hydrocarbon-degrading anaerobes

Question 15

Reductive dechlorination is important in the breakdown of chlorinated xenobiotics because

Accepted Answer

A)  anoxic conditions develop rapidly in polluted habitats. 
B)  oxygen is not present in most soils. 
C)  aerobic breakdown of xenobiotics is not possible. 
D)  only cometabolism occurs aerobically. 
A)  anoxic conditions develop rapidly in polluted habitats. 
B)  oxygen is not present in most soils. 
C)  aerobic breakdown of xenobiotics is not possible. 
D)  only cometabolism occurs aerobically.

Question 16

Water distribution systems contain

Accepted Answer

A)  very few bacteria or other microorganisms. 
B)  biofilms that may harbor opportunistic pathogens. 
C)  numerous grazing protists that consume bacteria. 
D)  biofilms that may harbor opportunistic pathogens and numerous grazing protists that consume bacteria. 
A)  very few bacteria or other microorganisms. 
B)  biofilms that may harbor opportunistic pathogens. 
C)  numerous grazing protists that consume bacteria. 
D)  biofilms that may harbor opportunistic pathogens and numerous grazing protists that consume bacteria.

Question 17

Metal-reducing Geobacter and Shewanella species are important in the microbial mining of metals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Chlorinated xenobiotics can ONLY be degraded aerobically,thus making them very recalcitrant if they accumulate in anoxic environments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

To further reduce the possibility of biological contamination,MOST treatment plants treat the effluent with

Accepted Answer

A)  fluorine. 
B)  chlorine. 
C)  ozone. 
D)  extreme heat. 
A)  fluorine. 
B)  chlorine. 
C)  ozone. 
D)  extreme heat.

Question 20

Which of the following can be completely degraded to carbon dioxide by microorganisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  petroleum 
B)  uranium 
C)  chlorinated organics 
D)  petroleum and chlorinated organics 
A)  petroleum 
B)  uranium 
C)  chlorinated organics 
D)  petroleum and chlorinated organics

Exam 21: Microbiology of the Built Environment

Describe the general processes that occur in a sludge digester.What is an advantage of sludge digestion over activated sludge?

Synthetic plastics are

Which of the following hydrocarbon compounds are MOST recalcitrant?

The propagation cycle that occurs in acid mine drainage is caused by

Which of the following is the first,or initiator,reaction in acid mine drainage and leaching?

If you were in charge of preserving ancient stone ruins and sculptures in an outdoor environment,what strategies would you use to prevent deterioration of the stone?

Based on your knowledge of hydrocarbon degradation,what factors most likely limited the rate of petroleum degradation after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska?

Trace the flow of raw water through a typical drinking water purification scheme.

Microbial immobilization is the best strategy for uranium bioremediation,because

Which of the following bacterial pathogens is found in water distribution systems?

Microbes are involved in which step(s)of wastewater treatment?

Reductive dechlorination is a process in which

Fungi are the main contributor to the biodeterioration of stone building materials and concrete wastewater distribution systems.

Which group of organisms is thought to be responsible for the corrosion of submerged metal structures and oil pipelines?

Reductive dechlorination is important in the breakdown of chlorinated xenobiotics because

Water distribution systems contain

Metal-reducing Geobacter and Shewanella species are important in the microbial mining of metals.

Chlorinated xenobiotics can ONLY be degraded aerobically,thus making them very recalcitrant if they accumulate in anoxic environments.

To further reduce the possibility of biological contamination,MOST treatment plants treat the effluent with

Which of the following can be completely degraded to carbon dioxide by microorganisms?

Microorganisms and Microbiology

Microbial Cell Structure and Function

Microbial Metabolism

Molecular Biology

Microbial Growth and Control

Microbial Genomics

Metabolic Regulation

Viruses and Virology

Viral Genomes and Diversity

Genetics of Bacteria and Archaea

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Microbial Evolution and Systematics

Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms

Functional Diversity of Bacteria

Diversity of Bacteria

Diversity of Archaea

Diversity of Eukaryotic Microorganisms

Methods in Microbial Ecology

Microbial Ecosystems

Nutrient Cycles

Microbial Symbioses

Microbial Interactions With Humans

Immunity and Host Defense

Immune Mechanisms

Molecular Immunology

Diagnostic Microbiology

Epidemiology

Person-To-Person Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Vectorborne and Soilborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Water and Food As Vehicles of Bacterial Diseases

Eukaryotic Pathogens: Fungal and Parasitic Diseases

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