Microbial Processes Promising Technologies for Developing Countries (1979) / Chapter Skim
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Introduction
Introduction
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Microbes, as organized systems of enzymes, can often perform these functions more efficiently than purely chemical processes, and current environmental and economic constraints make the potential contribution of microbes increasingly attractive. From these examples it is clear that microbes can be marshaled to aid in solving many important global problems including food shortages, resource recovery and reuse, energy shortages, and pollution Microbiology is particularly suited to make important contributions to human needs in developing
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, it is estimated that microorganisms make up about one-quarter of the biomass—the total weight of living organisms in the world—with animals and plants accounting for the remainder. Microorganisms occur everywhere, and extraordinary aseptic measures are required to exclude them from places where their presence would be harmful, such as the operating room of a hospital or a food-processing plant.
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Although no species of microbes can survive over the complete range of conditions found in nature, there are varieties that thrive in hot springs, polar wastes, acidic bogs, and highly saline waters like the Dead Sea. Temperature Most microorganisms grow within a temperature range of 30°C.
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The inorganic compounds that can be used by various autotrophic organisms include ammonia, hydrogen, reduced iron, manganese and other minerals, and hydrogen sulfide. Heterotrophs can utilize a wide variety of organic materials as sources of carbon.
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These include the production of single-cell protein to supplement animal feeds; mushrooms for human food from agricultural wastes; microbial rennet for cheese making; enzymes such as glucose isomerase; meat-like flavorings using the Chinese soy sauce and Japanese miso processes; xanthan and amino-, hydroxy-, and keto-acids, and vitamins, among other products. There are many potential ways for utilizing microorganisms in food production, from the household and village level to full-scale commercial operations.
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In some countries alcohol produced by microbial fermentation is added to petroleum products to supplement scarce fuel supplies. These processes that depend upon the solarproduced biomass may hold unique promise for supplying some of the energy requirements of less-developed nations.
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Pure Cultures for Microbial Processes Microorganisms are an extremely important natural resource. Because of the present and potential usefulness of beneficial microorganisms, it is essen
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INTRODUCTION 9 tial that their germ plasm be preserved, just as plant germ plasm is preserved in seed banks and endangered animal life is protected in various ways. Several outstanding culture collections of microorganisms exist today, and they are essential to research and teaching in microbiology as well as commercial microbial production.
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