The document discusses industrial biotechnology and microbial technology. Microbial technology uses microbes to produce products and services of economic value. It involves isolating microbes, screening them for product formation, improving yields, culturing and harvesting products. Microbes are used to produce metabolites, treat waste, control pests and pathogens, and ferment food. They can enhance nutrient availability as biofertilizers. Microbes also recover metals from ores and desulfurize coal. New technologies allow ethanol to be produced from crop residues rather than just grains. Industrial biotechnology and microbial technology have benefits like low substrate input, high output, environmental friendliness, renewability, and increased efficiency.

1. B
M.SC II Year – IV Semester
Department of Environmental science

2.  It, often referred to as , is a
collection of scientific techniques and technologies
used to improve both the efficiency and
environmental footprint of modern industrial
production.
 Microbial technology constitutes the core of
Industrial Biotechnology.
 Microbial technology refers to the use of microbes to
obtain a product or service of economic value. It is
also called as .

3.  Isolation of microorganisms from nature,
 Their screening for product formation,
 Improvement of product yields,
 Maintenance of cultures,
 Mass culture using bioreactors, and
 Recovery of products or services.

4.  Metabolite production.
 Anaerobic digestion (for methane production).
 Waste treatment (both organic and industrial).
 Production of biocontrol agents, and
 Fermentation of food products.
 Bio based fuel &energy.

5.  Microorganisms produce a number of metabolites
during their growth using cheap substrates.
 Acetone-butanol,
 Alcohol,
 Antibiotics,
 Enzymes,
 Organic acids
 Vitamins.

6.  Microorganisms employed to enhance the availability of
nutrients, viz., nitrogen (by fixing atmospheric N2) and
phosphorus (by solubilizing soil phosphorus), to the
crops are called biofertilizers.
 Rhizobium spp.
 Blue-green Algae and Azolla.
 Azotobacter and Azospirillum.

7.  Microbes can be employed to recover valuable metals
from low grade ores and also from dilute solutions for
which the conventional metallurgical processes are
uneconomical and, generally, rather polluting.
E.g
 leaching of copper as copper sulphate from ores.
 Desulphurization of Coals by Thiobacillus spp.

8.  Use of microorganisms to control insect pests,
pathogens or weeds constitutes biological
control, and the biological agents employed
for this purpose are called biocontrol agents.
 Bioinsecticides-
 Bioherbicides-

10.  Ethanol currently produced by
fermenting grain (old technology).
 Cellulose enzyme technology
allows conversion of crop residues
(stems, leaves and hulls) to
ethanol.
 Results in reduced CO2 emissions
by more than 90% (compared to
oil).
 Allows for greater domestic
energy production and it uses a
renewable feedstock.

11.  Low input of substrate.
 High rate of output.
 Friendly to environment.
 Renewable.
 Increased efficiency.