Uses of Fermentation in Industries

1.Production of alcoholic beverages :

a)Rice wine (samsu) from cooked rice

b)Beer and stout from oat.

c)Wine from grapes.

d)Whisky from wheat.

2.Vinegar.  Fermentation produces alcohol, which can be converted to ethanoic acid i.e. vinegar by addition of oxygen in the fermentator.  Vinegar can be produced from cooked rice or apple.

  3.Making bread and spongy cookies.  CO2 from fermentation makes the dough rise.

4.Production of cheese and yoghurt.  Coagulated milk protein added with Lactobacillus will be converted into cheese.  Similarly, milk added with the bacteria is used to produce yoghurt.  The bacteria convert the lactose in the milk to glucose before fermenting it to lactic acid.

5.Production of monosodium glutamate (MSG).  MSG is produced by a certain strain of fungus.

 6.Production of vitamins.  Yeast can be used to extract vitamins especially vitamin B complex.  Special strain of cultured yeast can produce other types of vitamins.

7.Production of medications.  Antibiotics are produced by fungi and other microorganisms.  Transgenic bacteria are used in the production of insulin.  In the future, transgenic yeasts and bacteria can be cultured to produce specific therapeutic proteins or medications. The protein like α-1-antitrypsin is produced to treat emphysema.