Microbial biomass culturable microbes

Janse I, Van Rijssel M, Ottema A, Gottschal JC (1999) Microbial breakdown of Phaeocystis mucopolysaccharides. Limnol Oceanogr 44 1447-1457 Janse I, Zwart G, Maarel MJEC, Gottschal JC (2000) Composition of the bacterial community degrading Phaeocystis mucopolysaccharides in enrichment cultures. Aquat Microb Ecol 22 119-133 Joint I, Pomroy A (1993) Phytoplankton biomass and production in the southern North-Sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 99 169-182... 

In some cases, the purpose of the process is to produce more of the microbe, as when yeast cultures aie grown to supply needs for particular strains in specific applications. In other cases, the purpose of the process is to use the biochemical processes of the particular microbe to convert one material into other materials, as when biomass is fermented for the production of industrial ethanol, butanol (butyl alcohol), and other compounds. Highly specific and bioengineered microbial cultures are often used to produce proteins and other biochemicals for pharmaceutical and medical research. 

---