Role of microbes in industry

Microbes, or microscopic organisms,

are widely used in large-scale
industrial processes. They are crucial
for the production of a variety of
metabolites, such as ethanol, butanol,
lactic acid and riboflavin, as well as
the transformation of chemicals that
help to reduce environmental
pollution. For instance, microbes can
be used to create biofertilizers or to
reduce metal pollutants. Microbes can
also be used to produce certain non-
microbial products, such as the
diabetes medication insulin.
Metabolite Production
The ethanol that microbes produce is
widely used as a solvent, extractant and
antifreeze. In addition, it forms the base
for many dyes, lubricants, detergents,
pesticides, resins, explosives, plasticizers
and synthetic fibers. N-butanol, also
produced by microbes, is useful in the
manufacturing of plasticizers, brake fluids,
extractants and petrol additives. Glycerol
is widely used in both medicines and the
food industry, while mannitol is used in
research and butanol is used both as a
solvent and in explosives.
Metal Leaching and Protection
Many bacteria thrive by reducing Fe (III),
ferric iron, to Fe (II), ferrous iron, and Mn
(VI) to Mn (II). Thus, these kinds of
microbes can be used to leach Fe(III) and
Mn(VI) metals from some soils and
sediments in order to form a range of
materials, such as magnetite, siderite and
rhodochrosite. This process, which is
called bioleaching, can change sediment
structure, as well as create the potential
to control water flow in aquifers and
produce biomaterials of commercial
value, such as magnetite.
Microbial Bio-Fertilizers
Bio-fertilizers consist of living
microorganisms that are added to the soil
to increase plant growth by providing
plants with increased amounts of
nutrients. Commonly used bio-fertilizers
include phosphate-solubilizers, which
make phosphates available to plants,
resulting in improved growth and crop
yield. Mycorrhizae, fungi associated with
plant roots, are often critical to adequate
nutrient uptake and plant survival in
natural ecosystems. Azospirillum bacteria
stimulate plant growth through a process
called nitrogen fixing.
Using Microbes to Produce Insulin
For decades, doctors treated patients with
diabetes mellitus with the insulin from the
pancreases of slaughtered cows and
pigs. Genetically engineered bacteria
produce the hormone insulin in a pure
form that is less likely to cause allergic
reactions in patients. Scientists use a
technology called recombinant DNA to
put a human gene for insulin production in
the DNA of bacteria. The modified
bacteria are placed in large, stainless
steel fermentation tanks, where the gene
causes them to produce large amounts of
insulin. When fermentation is complete,
The scientists harvest and purify the
insulin so it is ready to be injected by
diabetic patients. Equipment is kept
sterile at all times to prevent the bacteria
from becoming contaminated.