20: Microbes For Application In The Industry

Question 1

What is a continuous feed system?

Answer 1

This is when your tube feedings run non stop for 24hours

Question 2

How is industrial penicillin produced?

Answer 2

Today commercial producing strains of penicillin chrysogenum are grown using submerged culture in constantly agitating and aerated 50k gallon stainless steel tanks

Question 3

What is the difference between a primary and secondary metabolite?

Answer 3

Primary metabolites are essential for the proper growth of microorganisms

Secondary metabolites are formed near the stationary phase of growth and are not involved in growth, reproduction and development

Question 4

What organisms can produce a biopolymer?

Answer 4

A biopolymer is an assembly of monomers derived from any living organisms including algae, bacteria and fungi by consuming carbon source during their growth

Question 5

What is a PSM?

Answer 5

Phosphorus solubilising microorganisms

Microbial phosphate solubilisation

Question 6

How are PSM’s useful to agriculture?

Answer 6

• traditionally used for improving levels of phosphate in soil
• apart from chemical fertilisation, microbial p-solubilisation and mineralisation is the only possible way to increase plant available phosphorus
• in the natural environment numerous microorganisms in the soil and rhizosphere are effective at releasing phosphorus from total soil phosphorus through solubilisation and materialisation

Question 7

How do organic acids mobilise minerals?

Answer 7

The ability of soil organic acids to dissolve insoluble minerals in the soil is attributed to three major mechanisms; namely acidification, chelation and exchange reactions

Question 8

Why are rare earth elements an important commodity?

Answer 8

Rare earth elements (REE’s) are used as components in high technology devices including smart phones, digital cameras,computer hard disks etc etc