Fermentation Technology

Fermentation is the anaerobic conversion of sugar to carbon dioxide and alcohol by yeast or any group of chemical reactions induced by living or nonliving ferments that split complex organic compounds into relatively simple substances. In fermentation a chemical change is brought on by the action of microscopic yeast, molds and bacteria. Fermentation is the process involving the biochemical activity of organisms, during their growth, develA-opment, reproduction, even senescence and death. Fermentation technology is the use of organisms to produce food, pharmaceuticals and alcoholic beverages on a large scale industrial basis. The basic principle involved in the industrial fermentation technology is that organisms are grown under suitable conditions, by providing raw materials meeting all the necessary requirements such as carbon, nitrogen, salts, trace elements and vitamins. The end products formed as a result of their metabA-olism during their life span are released into the media, which are extracted for use by human being and that have a high commercial value. The field of Fermentation Technology has been the science of many stormy developments in the past decade. The major products of fermentation technology produced economA-ically on a large scale industrial basis are wine, beer, cider, vinegar, ethanol, cheese, hormones, antibiotics, complete proteins, enzymes and other useful products. The aim of the book is to provide an in-depth study of the principles of fermentation technology and recent advances and developments in the field of fermentation technology, focusing on industrial applications.