Unit 1B Flashcards
Micro-organism
Very tiny organisms that can only be seen in detail with a microscope.
There are 4 types - bacteria, fungi, viruses and protists
Unicellular
A single celled organism
Properties of micro-organisms
Grow rapidly
Have simple nutrient requirements
Produce a wide range of useful products
Conditions for growing microbes
Food supply
Warmth
Water
Correct pH
Yeast
A single celled fungus used in brewing and baking.
Baking
Yeast feeds on sugar in the dough and produces carbon dioxide gas.
This gets trapped in the dough and causes it to rise.
Brewing
Yeast is used to ferment the sugar in hops and barley into alcohol and carbon dioxide (which makes the beer fizzy).
Wine making
Yeast is used to ferment the sugar in crushed grapes into alcohol.
Fermenter
Large container used to produce beer in commercial quantities, in carefully controlled condidtions.
Batch processing
All the ingredients are placed into the fermenter at the start of the process, and it is emptied out when ready.
Used to brew beer.
Making yoghurt
Yoghurt bacteria are added to sterilised milk that has been heat treated so that it contains no bacteria.
It is placed in an incubator to keep it warm.
The yoghurt bacteria feed on the lactose sugar in the milk and turn it to lactic acid.
The increased acidity thickens and sours the milk to make yoghurt.
Biofuel
A renewable fuel made from plant or animal waste by fermenting it using bacteria.
Can be used for transport, heating or generating electricity.
eg. bioethanol (corn starch), biodiesel (waste oil), biogas (manure or food waste).
Sewage treatment
The sewage is screened and allowed to settle to separate the liquid and solid sludge.
The sludge is stirred and aerated (air is bubbled through it) allowing bacteria to grow on it and break it down.
The liquid part is filtered through gravel containing bacteria which break down the fine sewage particles.
Treated water is returned to the river.
Bioremediation
Using micro-organisms to break down harmful waste into less harmful products.
eg. sewage treatment, using bacteria to break down nuclear waste and using fungi to break down nerve gas.
Photosynthesis
The process that green plants use to make food (sugars).