11.1: Applications of Industrial Biotechnology
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, scientists began to study how bioremediation techniques could be used to speed up the natural process of breaking down oil in order to minimize the impact of oil spills on the environment. Their work was based on the fact that certain bacteria, like Alcanivorax borkumensis, can use the hydrocarbons in oil as a food source, breaking it down into simpler compounds. A. borkumensis was discovered near the island of Borkum (hence the epithet borkumensis) by scientists in 2006. It is classified as a halophile, an organism that thrives in salty environments, like the ocean. It can be found all across the world both in coastal environments and oceanic environments and has been found to be more common in oceanic areas containing petroleum - although whether this is from spills, natural fields, or other sources of oil, is not known.
The use of microbes in the clean-up of hazardous materials has since gained in popularity since the Deepwater Horizon spill. Pseudomonas putida, a versatile bacteria found in soil and water environments, can break down a variety of hydrocarbons, including benzene and other toxic oil-related compounds. Several species of Mycobacterium can degrade complex hydrocarbons, which are found in oils, and are often resistant to harsh environments. Other bacterials strains like those of the Bacillus and Thalassolituus genera have also become part of the ever expanding bioremediation "toolkit" available to industrial manufacturers.
Check out this video explaining how bacteria, like A. borkumensis, are used to "eat" oil spills.
Introduction
Industrial biotechnology, also known as "white" biotechnology, is a branch of biotechnology that uses a biological system to develop bio-based products, processes, or services used in industry. These biological systems may be naturally occurring, modified slightly through genetic engineering, or can be redesigned from "scratch" to create synthetic systems. To learn about synthetic biology, go to Chapter 11.2 Synthetic Biology & Bioprocess Engineering.
One popular use of industrial biotechnology is the production of a "biologic", a therapeutic product extracted from a biological organism. The biological systems used in industrial biotechnology include the use of microbes (e.g. bacteria, yeast, other fungi), enzymes, and cell cultures. Industrial biotechnology integrates these biological systems with other areas, like engineering, to create sustainable and efficient solutions for industries such as agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and textiles.
Some commonly used organisms used in industrial biotechnology are:
- E.coli - a bacterial strain used in recombinant DNA technology for protein production
- Bacillus subtilis – a bacterial strain that is used to produce industrially important enzymes like amylases and proteases
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae – a yeast strain used in fermentation processes for food (.e.g beer, wine), pharmaceuticals, and bioethanol production
- Aspergillus niger – a fungus used for citric acid production
Industrial biotechnology is sustainable, using renewable resources to replace fossil-based fuel processes. Its use of microbial systems, like bacteria and yeast, allows industries to manufacture products efficiently with relatively little energy input. The renewable nature of industrial biotechnology has a relatively small carbon footprint in comparison to conventional manufacturing processes, making this area of biotechnology eco-friendly and sustainable.
Industrial biotechnology uses biological systems to develop products, processes, or services for industry. At the end of this page, you will be able to:
- Identify the key areas of industrial biotechnology
- Describe the types of bioplastics
- Describe the enzyme types made through industrial biotechnology
- Explain how industrial biotechnology can make enzymes
- Explain how the pharmaceutical industry and industrial biotechnology are related
- List some of the areas of environmental remediation
- List some of the advantages of industrial biotechnology
Key Areas of Industrial Biotechnology
Industrial biotechnology encompasses several key areas, including:
- Bio-based chemicals and materials - the production of biodegradable plastics and bio-based solvents.
- Biofuels and Bioenergy – the use of microbes, like bacteria and yeast, to produce renewable energy sources, such as bioethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen
- Enzyme Technologies – the production of enzymes used in food processing, detergents, textiles, and pharmaceutical industries
- Biopharmaceuticals – the large-scale production of vaccines, antibodies, and other therapeutic compounds
- Agricultural Biotechnology – the development of genetically-modified crops, biofertilizers, and biopesticides
Applications of Industrial Biotechnology
Bioplastics
Biodegradable plastics, also known as bioplastics, are a category of plastics that are derived from renewable biological sources like plant starches, plant oils, organic waste, and microbes. Unlike conventional plastics, which are made from petroleum products, bioplastics are either biodegradable, compostable, or bio-based and non-degradable, making them eco-friendly alternatives.The uses of bioplastics are wide and varied and can include medical implants and devices, food packaging and agricultural films.
Types of bioplastics include:
- bio-based, non-degradable - made from renewable resources but do not degrade easily
- e.g. bio-based polyethylene (PE) - derived from sugar cane; chemically identical to fossil-fuel based PE
- biodegradable - break down naturally in the environment through microbial action
- cellulose-based (e.g., cellulose acetate, cellophane) - produced through the microbial fermentation of cellulose; source material includes wood pulp, cotton, and agricultural waste; used in food packaging, textiles and fibers, coatings and films, filters and electronics
- starch-based (e.g. thermoplastic starch) - produced through the microbial fermentation of cellulose;
- compostable - break down into water, CO2, and other biological compounds under industrial composting conditions
Production of bioplastics typically begins with a biopolymer, a natural polymer made by living organisms. Polysaccharides and proteins are well-known examples of biopolymers, along with more complex compounds that come from microbial sources. Many bioplastics are produced through the fermentation of biopolymers like starch and cellulose. Advances in genetic engineering have led to more efficient microbial strains capable of producing high yields of bioplastics.
Examples of biopolymers used in bioplastic production are:
- polylactic acid (PLA) - produced through the microbial fermentation of corn starch or sugar cane
- polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) - produced from bacteria; used in medical implants, food packaging and agricultural films
Biofuel Production
With the rising demand for sustainable energy, biofuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas have gained significance. Industrial biotechnology facilitates the conversion of biomass (e.g., sugarcane, corn, and algae) into renewable fuels through microbial fermentation. Algae-based biofuels, in particular, hold promise due to their high lipid content and rapid growth. To read more about biofuel production, go to Chapter 7.4 Industrial Applications of Microbial Biotechnology.
Industrial Enzyme Production
Industrial enzyme production is the large-scale process of culturing microbes, like bacteria or yeast to produce enzymes for commercial applications. These microbes may be genetically-modified or used unaltered for this production. The enzymes made can be used in a wide variety of industries, such as the food, textile, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors.
Examples of industrial enzymes produced, include:
- Amylases: break down starches into sugars
- used in the food industry (e.g., baking, brewing) and in the production of biofuels
- Proteases: degrade proteins
- used in the food industry (e.g., dairy production), consumer product industry (e.g., detergent production), and textile industry (e.g., processing of leather)
- Lipases: break down fats
- used in the food industry (e.g., dairy production), consumer product industry (e.g., detergent production) and production of biofuels
- Cellulases: degrade cellulases into simple sugars
- used in the textile industry (e.g., fabric softening) and production of biofuels
- Lactases: used to break down lactose
- used in the food industry (e.g. dairy production)
While done at a large-scale, industrial enzyme production is relatively straightforward. The basic steps are:
- Microbe selection
- common microbes are bacteria (e.g. Bacillus), yeast or other fungal species (e.g. Aspergillus)
- microbes can be genetically-modified to increase their yield of a specific enzyme or to produce a non-native enzyme
- Fermentation
- microbes are fermented in either a liquid medium (i.e., submerged fermentation) or grown on solid materials like agricultural or food waste (i.e., solid-state fermentation)
- solid-state fermentation mimics natural environments and is used for the production of specific enzymes like amylases and cellulases
- Enzyme extraction and purification
- enzymes are harvested and purified using techniques like filtration, centrifugation, and chromatography
- Formulation and stabilization
- enzymes are formed into liquids, powders, or granules
- compounds like calcium ions or glycerol can be added to stabilize the product for commercial use
Because it reduces chemical waste (and even uses it in some cases) and requires low amounts of energy, industrial enzyme production is eco-friendly. It is also highly specific and efficient as enzymes target specific reactions in industrial processes. Lastly, industrially-produced enzymes can lower production costs in many industries, including food, pharmaceutical, and energy production.
Pharmaceutical Industry
Industrial biotechnology plays a vital role in drug development, including the production of antibiotics, the development of monoclonal antibodies for treating diseases, the production of vaccines through the use of recombinant DNA technology, and the synthesis of therapeutic compounds (e.g. hormones, vitamins, enzymes) using genetically-modified bacteria. For example, human insulin is now produced at scale through the insertion of the human insulin gene into bacteria. Industrial biotechnology has resulted in the development of customized therapies based on an individual's genetic makeup, including CAR-T cell therapy for treating certain cancers. Like other applications, industrial biotechnology practices in the pharmaceutical industry reduces pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and saves energy and resources. It can also reduce the production of toxic waste products that result from drug manufacturing. Engineered yeast strains can now produce the compound artemisinin, an anti-malarial molecule that is traditionally extracted from plants. As such, the production of this compound using biotechnology approaches is significantly reducing the impact of this drug on the environment.
Waste Treatment and Environmental Bioremediation
Industrial biotechnology offers numerous solutions for waste management and environmental remediation - the process of using bacteria, fungi, or plants to naturally breakdown and remove pollutants, contaminants, or toxins from the environment in order to restore ecosystems and protect human health. Microbes are becoming a key part of remediation approaches that degrade pollutants, including oil spills, heavy metals, and plastic waste (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)). Bacteria and their enzymes are also used in wastewater treatment to break down organic waste and treat industrial effluents. Organic waste products are also the starting point for conversion into methane-rich biogas for energy generation.
There are numerous areas of environmental bioremediation that utilize industrial biotechnology:
- Soil Remediation – the removal of pollutants like heavy metals, petroleum, or pesticides from soil
- Water Remediation – the treatment of contaminated groundwater, rivers, or oceans by removing toxins, oil spills, or heavy metals
- Air Remediation – the removal of air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases
Advantages and Challenges of Industrial Biotechnology
Industrial biotechnology offers manufacturers several advantages, including:
- Sustainability – Reduces reliance on fossil fuels and minimizes environmental impact
- Cost-Effectiveness – Uses renewable resources and reduces energy consumption
- Eco-Friendly – Produces biodegradable products and reduces carbon emissions
- Innovation – Facilitates the development of novel materials and drugs
Despite these numerous benefits, industrial biotechnology faces challenges in wide-spread implementation. The high initial cost of setting up a bioprocessing plant requires substantial investment that might discourage manufacturers from considering biotechnology as an option. Scaling up the required laboratory processes in order to optimize the system(s) can be complex. Strict regulations govern the use of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) and bio-based products. However, continued improvements in fermentation technology, modifications in synthetic biology systems, the use of CRISPR-based techniques, and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to drive the growth of industrial biotechnology and ensure a more sustainable industrial future.
Industrial biotechnology is revolutionizing various sectors by offering sustainable, cost-effective, and innovative solutions.
Some important concepts to remember are:
- Industrial biotechnology encompasses areas like bioremediation, biofuels and bioenergy, biopharmaceuticals, enzyme technologies, and agriculture
- Bioplastics are synthesized from biopolymers like starches
- Bioplastics range from biodegradable, compostable, and non-biodegradable but bio-based
- Polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are common biopolymers used in bioplastic synthesis
- Industrial enzyme production is the large-scale process of culturing microbes for the production of enzymes for commercial applications
- Industrial enzyme production reduces chemical waste, requires low amounts of energy, and is eco-friendly and sustainable
- Industrial biotechnology plays a role in the development of antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and therapeutic compounds
- Bacteria, fungi, or plants can be used in bioremediation - a natural process that breaks down and removes pollutants, contaminants, or toxins from the environment
- Bacteria can also be also used in wastewater treatment to break down organic waste and treat industrial effluents
Glossary
Bio-based - materials, products, or processes that are derived from living organisms, especially plants, animals, or microbes, rather than from fossil fuels or synthetic chemicals
Biocatalyst - a natural substance, like an enzyme or a whole microbe, that speeds up (catalyzes) chemical reactions in biological or industrial processes
Biodegradable - a material that can be broken down naturally by biological processes in the body into harmless byproducts over time
Biologic - a product extracted from a living organism
Bioplastic - a type of plastic that is made from a renewable biological source; may or may not be biodegradable
Biopolymer - a natural polymer produced by living organisms, or a synthetic polymer made from biological materials
Biological system - a group of parts in a living organism that work together to perform a specific function and keep the organism alive and healthy
Compostable - refers to a material that can break down naturally into nutrient-rich compost; leaves no harmful residue behind
Industrial biotechnology - the use of living organisms, enzymes, or biological systems to create industrial products and processes; also known as white biotechnology
Industrial enzyme - an enzyme used in large-scale industrial processes to speed up chemical reactions in a cost-effective, efficient, and eco-friendly way
Remediation - the process of fixing, correcting, or cleaning up a problem, especially when it comes to the environment or contaminated areas