Question

Which one of the following is a wrong match of a microbe and its industrial product?
A) Clostridium butyricum- lactic acid
B) Aspergillus niger-citric acid
C) Acetobacter aceti – acetic acid
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Microbes have been found to be quite useful in industries. They help in the manufacture of different food items or other products in large amounts. The microbial strains used can be either wild types or genetically modified ones to maximize the production rate.

Complete answer:
Microbes are used in the industry to produce substances that are of economic value. This process is known as fermentation. Industrial microbiology contributes largely to many fields such as healthcare, production of food, manufacture of important enzymes and help in environmental management. It can be used mainly for the production of- antibiotics, food preservatives, fermented food items such as wine, cheese, important chemical compounds and much more. Though microbes have proven to be of great help in the industry there are a few safety guidelines that need to be followed. These are- safe disposal of the industrial effluents, dealing with toxicity due to microbial production, prevention of contaminations. There are many organisms that serve important roles in industry. Clostridium butyricum produced butyric acid on fermentation that plays important roles in the food and medical sector. Aspergillus niger produces citric acid on fermentation which is used in the food and cosmetic industry. Acetobacter aceti produces acetic acid that is mostly used in the preparation of vinegar.

Hence the correct option is (A) Clostridium butyricum- lactic acid (is the wrong match)

Note: Microbes though are quite helpful in producing economically important products in large scale in the industry but care must be taken to carry out the disposal steps correctly which might otherwise cause problems to humans and the environment.