Use of radiation in strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae:A new technique for industrial applications

During the industrial fermentation process in the production of fuel ethanol, yeasts are subject to several stressing conditions. The survival and the permanence of strains introduced in the process correlate with the capability of these yeasts in resisting to physical and chemical stresses, as well as their recovering ability to compete with contaminating micro-organisms commonly present in this industrial process. We aim at the selection of Saccharomyces cere visiae strains having this capability and ability. In this sense, cultivations of strains with industrial interest were irradiated with gammas ray at a wide dose interval. Growing curves for the strains were analyzed by means of their relative growth, a new concept here introduced, which allows a better understanding of the growing and recovering processes following radiative stress. It was found that gamma radiation could be used as an alternative method to quantify growing capabilities of S. cerevisiae strains under stressing conditions. It was also shown that this radiological method could be utilized as an additional procedure to select best robust industrial strains. This radiological method simplifies traditional analysis of strain viability, by avoiding the great number of necessary and consecutive fermentation assays.

Recent Progress of Commercially Available Biosensors in China and Their Applications in Fermentation Processes

Biosensors, which are the products of the biotechnology industry, are among the key projects of the 7th, 8th, and 9th Fiveyear Plans of China Science ＆ Technology Developing Programs, respectively, and they play an important role in developing and reforming traditional biotechnology. SBA series biosensor analyzer, as the only one commercial biosensor in China, has attracted lots of attention in the process of information gathering and measurement for biological industry with the development of technology and society. In this paper, we presented an overview of the most important contributions dealing with the monitoring of the biochemical analytes in fermentation processes using SBA series biosensor analyzers in China. Future trends of the biosensor analyzer in China were also mentioned in the last section.

Whole process reclamation and utilization of wastes produced in the biological fermentation industry

Wastes yielded in the vintage process and the biological fermentation of itaconic acid and sodium gluconate of a winery in Shandong, such as grain stillage, melon lees, cornstarch protein residues, itacanic acid mother liquid, itaconic acid mycelium and sodium gluconate mycelium, were studied. High-activity biological protein feed, foliar fertilizer and irrigation fertilizer were generated from these wastes by applying biological/microbial technologies. Meanwhile, a whole set of technological pathways was put forward. As a result, the optimal economical and social benefits can be obtained with low natural resource consumption and environmental costs by converting wastes into useful matters. In conclusion, through the utilization of limited resources in the whole process of reclamation and utilization of wastes, the harmony promotion can be achieved between the economic system and the natural ecosystem.