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Caffeine

Economic value/ main application

Caffeine is most commonly used for use mental alertness, headaches, migraines athletic performance, memory, and obesity.

WebMD (2017). Caffeine: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning. [online] Webmd.com. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-979/caffeine.

Some elements of coffee’s economic impact include, Trade and import, Storage and transport, including shipping and trucking

Roasting and packaging.

National Coffee Association USA (2022). The Economic Impact of the Coffee Industry. [online] www.ncausa.org. Available at: https://www.ncausa.org/Research-Trends/Economic-Impact.

Production microbe

Yeasts, such as Hanseniaspora uvarum and Pichia kudriavzevii, dominate the early to mid-stages, break down sugars Lactic acid bacteria, such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus plantarum, appear in the mid-to-late stages of fermentation.

Wettstadt, S. (2025). Microbes as artisans for making your perfect cup of coffee. [online] FEMS. Available at: https://fems-microbiology.org/femsmicroblog-microbes-as-artisans-for-making-your-perfect-cup-of-coffee/.

Fermentation technology

Natural/Dry fermentation.

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Penicillin

Application:

broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against many bacterial infections

Penicillin production mainly consists of three steps:

1.Inoculum preparation

Inoculum: Penicillium chrysogenum.

2.Production fermentation

Method: fed batch

Media: (Jackson 1958)

Corn steep liquor solids-3.5%

Lactose: 3.5%

Cellulose: 1%

CaCO3: 1%

K2HPO4: 0.4%

3.Product recovery

filtration

https://microbiologynotes.org/penicillin-history-structure-production-and-recovery/?noamp=available

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3. Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs)

Economic value / Main Application:

Microbially produced omega-3 PUFAs are valuable as dietary supplements and functional food ingredients, especially for vegetarians and those avoiding fish-derived products. The global omega-3 market is worth billions of dollars annually. It valued at approximately USD 2.8-3.5 billion.

Production Microbes:

Microalgae (Schizochytrium, Crypthecodinium cohnii) and certain fungi (Mortierella alpina) are the main producers of microbial omega-3s.

Fermentation Technology:

Large-scale submerged fermentation in closed bioreactors is used, ensuring high yields and purity. The process is independent of geographic and climatic conditions, allowing for consistent production.

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/27319/the-value-of-microbial-bioreactors-to-meet-challenges-in-the-circular-bioeconomy/magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Dr Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-MohtarUniversity of Malaya

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Value of Microbial Bioreactors To Meet Challenges In The Circular Bioeconomy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Exploiting and harnessing microbial biomass in aqueous environments presents a timely means of meeting pressing and emerging societal challenges. For example, the United Nation has set out 17 Strategic Development Goals highlighting priority areas to improve health and wellbeing that requires the commensurate need to innovate in order to unlock solutions. Moreover, there is a need to efficiently produce higher yields of food at lower costs, without requiring arable land, along with climate-proofing these vital resources. Bioreactor-based solutions have desirable qualities such as proven culture-based processes, ease of operation, safety compliance, non-toxicity, and the potential to be produced in large numbers at a consistent grade. There is growing interest in the use of this technology to inform food sustainability, improve supply chains and circularity (the bioeconomy), along with the potential for using biobased properties from foods and waste products that align with the “One-Health” concept. The use of bioreactors can also be used as a novel toolbox for informing and modelling the potential impact of climate change variance on local ecosystems, including biodiversity. The aforementioned are highlighted in this topic.

In recent years, researchers have been more interested in adopting bioreactor-based fermentation methods to utilize microbial biomass for social advantages. As a result, the use of dried and wet microbial biomass for industrial uses has increas…

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Recombinant Chymosin Reference

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780750615136500123?utm_source

https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-fermented-chymosin-market?srsltid=AfmBOoq5ATdAxnWZIHX0MAKLwZX5ZDdOFwD_Zp4WODUgoUet-3H9N5IW&utm_source

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1475-2859-5-S1-S31?utm_source

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Recombinant Growth hormone citations

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/recombinant-growth-hormone

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3685787/

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Human Growth Hormone (hGH)

•Economic Value / Main Application

It is used to treat growth hormone deficiency in children and adults, as well as Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and other disorders

As of 2023 the global market value for recombinant human growth hormone was estimated at USD 6.32 billion, with a strong growth forecast due to increasing demand for both medical and performance-enhancing purposes.

•Production Microbe

The most common is the genetically engineered Escherichia coli (E. coli)

By containing the human hGH gene which allows it to produce the hormone efficiently in large quantities

•Fermentation tech

Usually done by using the fed batch bioreactor where nutrients are gradually added to keep the bacterial cells growing and producing hGH

It first expresses the hGH as inclusion bodies

Then The cells are harvested, and the inclusion bodies are isolated, solubilized, and refolded into functional hGH.

The protein is then p

urified to use

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Recombinant Chymosin

Production Microbes: Genetically engineered microorganisms like Aspergillus niger and Kluyveromyces lactis are utilized for chymosin production.

Fermentation Technology: Submerged liquid fermentation is commonly used for producing recombinant chymosin.

Economic Value: The global fermented chymosin market was valued at USD 4.27 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 6.12 billion by 2032.

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Tetracycline

-polyketide antibiotics produced by Streptomyces genus of Actinobacteria

-global market size: around USD 36.23 billion in 2024, projected to reach USD 44.14 billion by 2032

-main applications: bacterial infection treatment in human or animal (exp: acnes, skin infection, eye infection...)

-fermentation technology: submerged fermentation in liquid nutrient media containing carbon and nitrogen sources, inorganic nutrient salts under aerobic condition, followed by isolation of Tetracycline from the fermented broth.

References:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Tetracycline

https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-tetracyclines-market

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3429781A/en

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2. PHAs

Economic value / Main Application:

PHAs are used to produce biodegradable plastics, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. This market is rapidly growing due to increasing environmental regulations and consumer demand for green packaging solutions. It costs around $3-$6 per kg.

Production Microbes:

Bacteria such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida are commonly used for PHA production.

Fermentation Technology:

PHAs are typically produced using aerobic fermentation in bioreactors. The process often employs renewable feedstocks and can be integrated into biorefinery systems for circular bioeconomy applications.

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/27319/the-value-of-microbial-bioreactors-to-meet-challenges-in-the-circular-bioeconomy/magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Dr Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-MohtarUniversity of Malaya

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Value of Microbial Bioreactors To Meet Challenges In The Circular Bioeconomy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Exploiting and harnessing microbial biomass in aqueous environments presents a timely means of meeting pressing and emerging societal challenges. For example, the United Nation has set out 17 Strategic Development Goals highlighting priority areas to improve health and wellbeing that requires the commensurate need to innovate in order to unlock solutions. Moreover, there is a need to efficiently produce higher yields of food at lower costs, without requiring arable land, along with climate-proofing these vital resources. Bioreactor-based solutions have desirable qualities such as proven culture-based processes, ease of operation, safety compliance, non-toxicity, and the potential to be produced in large numbers at a consistent grade. There is growing interest in the use of this technology to inform food sustainability, improve supply chains and circularity (the bioeconomy), along with the potential for using biobased properties from foods and waste products that align with the “One-Health” concept. The use of bioreactors can also be used as a novel toolbox for informing and modelling the potential impact of climate change variance on local ecosystems, including biodiversity. The aforementioned are highlighted in this topic.

In recent years, researchers have been more interested in adopting bioreactor-based fermentation methods to utilize microbial biomass for social advantages. As a result, the use of dried and wet microbial biomass for industrial uses has increas…

# data[].attributes.body
Botulinum toxin (Botox), produced by Clostridium botulinum using anaerobic batch fermentation, generates billions annually in cosmetic and therapeutic markets. Controlled bioreactors with strict pH, temperature, and oxygen exclusion optimize yield, enabling their use in neuromuscular treatments and aesthetic medicine.

**The global botulinum toxin market was valued at USD 11.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 21.1 billion by 2030, driven by its applications in cosmetic and therapeutic treatments.

Reference:

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/botulinum-toxin-market

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9029357/

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1. Ethanol

Microbe: Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast)

Naturally evolved to ferment sugars anaerobically (even when oxygen is available—called the Crabtree effect)

Tolerates up to 12–15% ethanol, beyond which it gets drunk and stops working

Substrates Used:

Molasses, corn starch, sugarcane juice, cellulosic biomass (in advanced bioethanol)

Fermentation Process: Anaerobic batch fermentation

Key reaction:

Glucose → 2 Ethanol + 2 CO₂ + energy

pH: 4.0–4.5

Temp: ~30°C

Oxygen is limited to push the pathway toward ethanol (not biomass)

Downstream Processing:

Ethanol is distilled and dehydrated to ~99.5% purity for fuel-grade ethanol

Economic & Environmental Value:

Biofuel: Renewable substitute for petrol (e.g., E10 = 10% ethanol blend)

Carbon-neutral (in theory): CO₂ released = CO₂ absorbed by plants used for biomass

Ref: https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethanol-production

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Ethanol is a domestically produced alternative fuel most commonly made from corn in the United States. It is also made from cellulosic feedstocks, such as crop residues and wood-though this is not as common. U.S. ethanol plants are concentrated in the Midwest because of the proximity to corn production. Plants outside the Midwest typically receive corn by rail or use other feedstocks and are located near large population centers.

Production

The production method of ethanol depends on the type of feedstock used. The process is shorter for starch- or sugar-based feedstocks than with cellulosic feedstocks.

Starch- and Sugar-Based Ethanol Production

Most ethanol in the United States is produced from starch-based crops by dry- or wet-mill processing. Nearly 90% of ethanol plants are dry mills due to lower capital costs. Dry milling is a process that grinds corn into flour and ferments it into ethanol with coproducts of distillers grains and carbon dioxide. Wet-mill plants primarily produce corn sweeteners, along with ethanol and several other coproducts (such as corn oil and starch). Wet mills separate starch, protein, and fiber in corn prior to processing these components into products, such as ethanol.

Cellulosic Production

Making ethanol from cellulosic feedstocks-such as grass, wood, and crop residues-is a more involved process than using starch-based crops. There are two primary pathways to produce cellulosic ethanol: biochemical and thermochemical. The biochemical process involves a pretreatment to release hemicellulose sugars followed by hydrolysis to break cellulose into sugars. Sugars are fermented into ethanol and lignin is recovered and used to produce energy to power the process. The thermochemical conversion process involves adding heat and chemicals to a biomass feedstock to produce syngas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Syngas is mixed with a catalyst and reformed into ethanol and other liquid coproducts.

To read more about the conversion process, see Process Design and Economics for Biochemical Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol: Dilute-Acid Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Corn Stover and Process Design and Economics for Biochemical Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol: Thermochemical Pathway by Indirect Gasification and Mixed Alcohol Synthesis.

Schematic of Fuel Distribution System

Source: Dean Armstrong, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Distribution

Most U.S. ethanol plants are concentrated in the Midwest, but gasoline consumption is highest along the East and West Coasts. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than 90% of ethanol is transported by train or truck. A tanker truck can carry 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of ethanol, and one rail car can carry approximately 30,000 gallons of ethanol. The remaining 10% is mainly transported by barge, with minimal amounts transported by pipeline. The United States consumed nearly 14 billion gallons of ethanol in 2022.

Ethanol, gasoline blendstock, and additives are delivered separately to fuel terminals where they are blended into fuel trucks for delivery to stations.

Ethanol Pipelines

Delivering ethanol by pipeline is the most efficient option, but ethanol's affinity for water and solvent properties require the use of a dedicated pipeline or significant cleanup of existing pipelines to convert them into dedicated pipelines. Kinder Morgan ships batches of ethanol through its Central Florida Pipeline. For details, see the Central Florida Pipeline Ethanol Project.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Alternative Fuels Data Center: Ethanol Production

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ethanol is a domestically produced alternative fuel most commonly made from corn in the United States. It is also made from cellulosic feedstocks, such as crop residues and wood-though this is not as common. U.S. ethanol plants are concentrated in the Midwest because of the proximity to corn production.

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1. Single Cell Protein (SCP)

Economics value / Main Application:

SCP is used as a high-protein ingredient in animal feed and, increasingly, as a human food supplement. It addresses protein shortages and reduces reliance on traditional agricultural protein sources, with significant market value in livestock, aquaculture, and pet food industries. It can be produced at $1.5-$3 per kg, depending on the production scale and feedstock.

Production Microbe:

Common microbes include Yeast, Fungi, Bacteria, and Microalgae

Fermentation Technology:

SCP is produced via submerged fermentation in bioreactors, which allows for controlled, large-scale, and rapid biomass production. The process can use various substrates, including agricultural and food industry wastes, making it economically and environmentally attractive

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/36511/microbial-biomass-as-a-sustainable-source-of-nutritional-and-environmental-benefits/magazine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Ana P. CarvalhoCentro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Microbial Biomass as a Sustainable Source of Nutritional and Environmental Benefits

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Feeding a growing global population requires rethinking our systems of food production, processing, and distribution. For the past decades, diets have simultaneously become less nutritionally balanced and significantly contributed to the decrease in biodiversity, whereas the wastes resulting from the food industry have had a significant impact on the environment.

As an alternative to conventional food sources, edible microbial biomass is a promising technology to prevent environmental destruction promoted by increases in food demand. Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and microalgae present important advantageous properties, namely rapid growth and production rates, which are independent from geographical conditions. Several microorganisms may be used as a rich source of proteins and specific lipids, such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, among other important nutrients. Additionally, microbial biomass can also be used to produce environmentally friendly biopolymers to be used in smart packaging (thus reducing losses in perishable foods)or can be engineered to provide valuable molecules in a more sustainable way, enabling a range of new product developments. Ultimately, due to its production under controlled conditions, by-products generated during microbial production can be valorised through extraction of the remaining valuable compounds.

Although scientific and technological research on the aforementioned topics has been providing s…

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3. Lipase

•    Economic Value / Main Application:

Lipases are utilized in the dairy industry for flavor development in cheeses, in biodiesel production through transesterification processes, in detergents, and in the pharmaceutical industry for drug synthesis.

•    Production Microbe:

Candida rugosa is a yeast known for its high lipase production, making it valuable for various industrial applications.

https://ijret.org/volumes/2012v01/i04/IJRET20120104008.pdf

•    Fermentation Technology:

Both solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF) are used. SSF often employs substrates like groundnut oil cake, while SmF allows for precise control over fermentation parameters.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589014X25000210

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2. Protease

•    Economic Value / Main Application:

Proteases are crucial in the detergent industry for stain removal, in leather processing, meat tenderization, and in pharmaceuticals for wound debridement therapies.

•    Production Microbe:

Bacillus licheniformis is widely recognized for its ability to produce alkaline proteases, making it a staple in industrial enzyme production.

https://microbialcellfactories.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12934-020-01307-2

•    Fermentation Technology:

Submerged fermentation (SmF) is commonly used, with optimization of parameters like pH, temperature, and nutrient concentrations to enhance yield. Advanced techniques like fed-batch fermentation have also been employed to increase protease production.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589014X25000210

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B

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1. Amylase

•    Economic Value / Main Application:

Amylases are extensively used in the food industry for processes like starch liquefaction and saccharification, which are vital in brewing, baking, and syrup production. They also find applications in detergents and textile processing.

•    Production Microbe:

Bacillus subtilis is a prominent producer of amylase, known for its efficiency in enzyme production.

•    Fermentation Technology:

Both solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF) are employed for amylase production. SSF utilizes agro-industrial residues like wheat bran, offering a cost-effective approach, while SmF allows for controlled conditions and scalability.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364719318774

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3. Glutamic Acid

Microbe: Corynebacterium glutamicum

Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium

Originally isolated from soil; now engineered strains are fermentation workhorses

Key Mechanism:

Under biotin-limited or cell wall-weakening conditions, the cells leak glutamic acid into the medium

Metabolic overflow due to excess carbon leads to overproduction of alpha-ketoglutarate → glutamate

Substrates Used: Molasses, glucose, ammonium salts for nitrogen

Fermentation Process:

Aerobic fed-batch fermentation

Temp: ~30°C

pH: 7.0–7.2

Oxygenation is critical – limits favor glutamate excretion

Downstream Processing:

Glutamic acid is crystallized from the broth

Neutralized to form monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Applications:

Food industry: MSG as a flavor enhancer (umami)

Animal feed: Protein supplement

Pharmaceuticals: Precursor for other amino acids and neurotransmitter studies

Ref: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4147103/

Ref: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/glutamic-acid-market-A15523

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Lactic acid production – producing microorganisms and substrates sources-state of art

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Lactic acid is an organic compound produced via fermentation by different microorganisms that are able to use different carbohydrate sources. Lactic acid bacteria are the main bacteria used to produce lactic acid and among these, Lactobacillus spp.…

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yes

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Penicillin

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A

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Group enzyme

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Citric acid, produced by Aspergillus niger using submerged fermentation, generates $2.5B annually in food/beverage additives. Modern bioreactors with pH control and aeration maximize yield, making it highly cost-effective for industrial production.