This set of Environmental Biotechnology Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Microbial Applications for Metal Removal”.
1. Which of the following process helps in the uptake of heavy metals in bacteria?
a) Bioaccumulation
b) Bio augmentation
c) Bioleaching
d) Vermicomposting
View Answer
Explanation: Bio augmentation is usually the addition of any microbial culture to rapidly increase the rate of degradation of a pollutant in the environment. Bioleaching is the extraction of metals using microbes and Vermicomposting uses earthworms for composting purposes. Bioaccumulation in bacteria helps in the uptake of heavy metals in bacteria.
2. Mercury resistance or heavy metal resistance in bacteria is usually found in which contaminated sites?
a) Mercury contaminated sites
b) Copper contaminated sites
c) Nickle contaminated sites
d) Magnesium contaminated sites
View Answer
Explanation: Mercury contaminated sites are the areas where bacteria is found to have mercury resistance and is usually found in metal contaminated sites. It is usually found in bacteria like in gram positive and negative and is related to plasmid. Whereas, Copper, Nickle and Magnesium resistance are usually not found in metal contaminated sites in bacteria.
3. Heavy metal resistance elements are found in gram negative bacteria.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Mercury resistance can be found in gram positive or gram negative bacteria and that is related to plasmid codes. The heavy metal resistance elements in bacteria are generally plasmid coded and is usually associated with gram negative bacteria.
4. How does DNA develop resistance mechanisms?
a) Information from DNA
b) Intercellular ligands
c) Extracellular ligands
d) Integral proteins
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Explanation: Bacteria uses information present in DNA that leads to the development of resistance mechanisms in them. In bacteria, the resistance genes are found within plasmids, small pieces of DNA that carry genetic instructions. Extracellular ligands, Integral proteins or Intercellular ligands doesn’t develop resistance mechanisms in bacteria.
5. Which of the following is not used to clear-out heavy metals contaminated environment?
a) Bacteria
b) Fungi
c) Algae
d) H2S
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Explanation: H2S is mostly used in wastewater treatment plants but it is not used to clear-out heavy metals contamination from the environment. Whereas, microorganisms like fungi, bacteria and algae are used to clear-out heavy metals contaminated environment and this occurs by bioaccumulation process.
6. How bacteria help in metal extraction?
a) Oxidation of ore
b) Reduction of ore
c) Assimilation
d) Accumulation
View Answer
Explanation: In metal extraction, the bacteria catalyze the breakdown of the mineral by oxidizing the metal in presence of oxygen, this is how bacteria helps in metal extraction by additional oxidation of ore, whereas, reduction of ore doesn’t take place in this extraction process, assimilation and accumulation is not a part of metal extraction.
7. Which of the following is not a method of heavy metal removal from water?
a) Adsorption
b) Chemical precipitation
c) Biogas
d) Reverse osmosis
View Answer
Explanation: Biogas is the end product of sewage treatment when methane gas is produced, it is not used for heavy metal removal from water. Whereas, adsorption, chemical precipitation, reverse osmosis and solvent extraction is used for heavy metal removal from water.
8. Which of the following technique is not used to filter out heavy metals?
a) Activated Alumina
b) Carbon
c) Reverse osmosis
d) Chemical precipitation
View Answer
Explanation: Chemical precipitation is used to remove heavy metals by use of chemicals which ultimately leads to precipitation of the heavy metals but it doesn’t filter out. Activated Alumina, Carbon and Reverse osmosis is used to filter out heavy metals.
9. Phyto-mining is used to extract copper from contaminated soil.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Phyto-mining uses plants to absorb metal components from the contaminated soil and to extract copper from the soil. They do so by absorbing the metal and in the end the plants are collected and burned to produce ash. Then the copper is extracted from it.
10. Which of the following doesn’t have high levels of heavy metals?
a) Bread
b) Distilled water
c) Coffee
d) Fish
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Explanation: Distilled water doesn’t have any contamination as it is purified. Also, the core source of heavy metals which has high levels of heavy metals in food are bread, beverages, coffee, fish etc, also, these are consumed in large amounts.
11. Boiling the water can remove heavy metals.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Boiling the water cannot remove heavy metals, of course it can kill the pathogens but it cannot get rid of heavy metals from the contaminated water. The process of distillation can be used to remove heavy metals from water.
12. Which of the following heavy metal is found in coffee beverage?
a) Lead
b) NaCl
c) Water
d) Magnesium
View Answer
Explanation: Firstly, NaCl, water and magnesium are not categorized as heavy metal, also, NaCl is salt that is usually used every day in our food, water is not heavy metal and Magnesium is also not heavy metal. Lead is a common heavy metal is found in coffee beverage. Cadmium is also found in a few coffee types.
Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Environmental Biotechnology.
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