4/24/2016

1

Chapter # 12

INDUSTRIAL

MICROBIOLOGY

MICROBES IN INDUSTRY

Industrial microbiology is the

application of microbes & their

enzymes for industrial purposes to

generate useful products such as

chemicals, food, beverages,

detergents, paper, Pharmaceutical

industry, dairy products, wine,

pulp, textiles and biofuels.

4/24/2016

2

Enzymes are biological catalysts that fulfil their role by binding specific substrates at their active sites.

This specificity is one property of enzymes that makes them useful for industrial applications.

Enzymes are able to operate at room temperature, atmospheric pressure and within normal pH ranges (around 7) – all of which create energy savings for industry

Enzymes possess specifically shaped active sites for reacting with one specific substrate thereby generating pure products

free from unwanted by-products

Enzymes are biodegradable and, unlike many inorganic catalysts, cause less damage to the environment

Enzymes

Microbial enzymes are ISOLATED from a variety of microbes and these include bacteria, fungi and yeast cells.

Micro-organisms produce enzymes that function inside their cells (intracellular enzymes) and they may also produce enzymes that are

secreted and function outside the cells (extracellular enzymes).

4/24/2016

3

The large scale production of enzymes involves culturing micro-organisms in chambers called FERMENTERS or BIOREACTORS.

Micro-organisms are suitable for use in the large scale production of enzymes in fermenters because:

• They have rapid growth rates and are able to produce larger numbers of enzyme under favourable environmental conditions.

• Micro-organisms can be genetically engineered to improve the strain and enhance yields

• Micro-organisms have simple growth requirements and these can be precisely controlled within the fermenter.

• Micro-organisms can utilise waste products such as agricultural waste as substrates, so bioremediation & production of enzymes simultaneously.

Large Scale Production of Enzymes

Pectin is an insoluble substance found in the cell walls of plants

In the drinks industry, juice extracted from fruits appears cloudy due to the presence of pectin

PRODUCTION OF PECTINASE

Pectinase is an enzyme that is used in the industry to break down the pectin

The effect of pectinase is to clarify the fruit juice and to make it flow more freely

Pectinase is obtained from the fungus Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger produces pectinase as an extracellular enzyme

Commercial Enzyme Production - An Example

4/24/2016

4

Other uses of pectinases in food industry

Extraction of fruit and vegetable

juices

Extraction of vegetable Oils

Coffee, cocoa and tea fermentation

4/24/2016

5

Use of Bacterial amylases

Desizing of textile fabrics,

preparation of modified starch

sizing for textile.

Used in starch coating of paper,

in paper industries

Removal of wall papers

Use of Fungal amylases

•Conversion of partially acid

hydrolyzed starches into sweet syrups

• Syrups of desired products like

glucose, maltose & dextrins may be

produced.

•Use in baking products.

4/24/2016

6

Other carbohydrases of industrial uses

Maltases, lactases, invertases

Invertase and lactase are Yeast yielding

enzymes

Invertase is used in the preparation of

artificial honey

Lactase is used by ice cream

manufacturers to prevent lactos

crystalization in ice cream.

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Antibiotics are the most important

products of industrial microbes. e.g

penicillin.

These are the substances produced by

one organism which are harmful to

other organisms.

4/24/2016

7

Clinical \pharmaceutical prospective of

microbial enzymes

Enzyme Reaction Source Application

L- asparaginase Removal of L-

asparagine essential

for tumour growth

E. coli Cancer

chemotherapy

Urokinase Plasminogen

activation

Different Removal of fibrin

clots

Amylase and

protease

Hydrolysis Fungal or bacterial Wound

debridement and

digestive aids

penicillin Relieves pain Penicillium sp

Glucose oxidase Glucose oxidation Aspergillus niger Detection of

glucose in blood

Urease Urea hydrolysis to

CO2 and NH3

Bacteria Measurment of

urea in body fluids

CHEESE AND YOGURT PRODUCTION

Microorganisms are being used in the

production of cheese and yogurt.

Bacteria which are used as starter for cheese &

yogurt production include:

Lactococcus sp.

Lactobacillus sp.

Streptococcus sp.

4/24/2016

8

WINE PRODUCTION

Yeasts are the main fermenter and alcohol

producer in the production of wine, beer and other

alcohol drinks.

The main yeast species used is Saccharomyces

cerevisiae. It ferments the sugars, coming from

different sources, e.g., grapes for wine, barley for

beer, to alcohol and carbon dioxide.

RESEARCH INDUSTRY

This has paved new ways for developing desirable

properties in microbes which can make them model

organisms.

Also detection of regulatory and

metabolic pathways and causes

easy cultivation and handling of

micro organisms.

4/24/2016

9

BIO FUELS PRODUCTION

• Microorganisms like Saccharomyces

cerevisiae & Escherichia coli convert

sugar into ethanol through the process of

fermentation.

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER

TREATMENT

• Now Microbes are not only used in the production process

but are also used in the treatment of waste products released

from industries through the process of bioremediation. Now

waste water is also treated with Microbes to remove the

waste matter .

Two of the examples in which microbes are used includes

• Activated Sludge Process

• Trickling Filter Process

4/24/2016

10

COMMONLY USED

MICROORGANISMS

Majorly Bacteria is used which includes :

• Nocardia sp.

• Microthrix parvicella.

But mixture of other microrganisms are

also used which include Protozoa algae

and Fungi.

CONCLUSION

• At Industrial Scale microorganisms plays an integral

role in biosynthetic pathway and even treatment of

waste material coming out of industries. This is not

only cost- effective and an efficient way of

manufacturing but also an alternate to industrial

chemicals harmful to environment.