Organized ferments, definition

A broader definition of fermentation is "an enzymatically controlled transformation of an organic compound" according to Webster s New College Dictionary (A Merriam-Webster, 1977) that we adopt in this text. 

Table II contains representative over-all reactions for methane fermentations of acetate and hydrogen, respectively. Acetate fermentation is mediated by heterotrophic organisms which use acetate as a carbon source for synthesis as well as energy. For reaction B , Ek represents the electron equivalents of the electron donor converted for energy per electron equivalent of cells synthesized. Hydrogen fermentation, by contrast, is mediated by autotrophic organisms which use carbon dioxide, acetate, or some other carbon source for cell synthesis. In the equation shown in Table II acetate was assumed to be the carbon source used as found for this fermentation by Bryant (I). E has the same definition as for heterotrophic growth.

Lastly, the word fermentation needs to be discussed due to the confusion caused by different definitions of the word. Traditionally, fermentation was defined as the process for the production of alcohol or lactic acid from glucose. A broader definition of fermentation, which has been adopted in this handbook, is an enzymatically controlled transformation of an organic compound. 

The catalyst intervening in the decoir sition of urea was discovered in 1874 by Musculus, who found that ammoniacal urine, filtered and evaporated in a vacuum, is capable of causing the fermentation of fresh urea, giving a thick and viscous product similar to that obtained by precipitating decomposed urine with alcohol. Musculus thus established that the production of ammonia is not due exclusively to the ferment, but claims that it results from the action of a special substance of enzymic nature secreted in the bladder. Thus, while finding the presence of the enzyme, Musculus did not comprehend the relation which exists between the bacterium and the active substance. It was Miquel who definitely demonstrated that the enzyme acting on urea is indeed secreted by a micro-organism. This special catalyst was first described under the name of urase, then under that of urease. 

Definition High m.w. hetero polysaccharide gum produced by a pure-culture fermentation of a carbohydrate with Xanthomonas campestris-, contains D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-glucuronic acid and is prepared as the sodium, potassium, or calcium sait Properties Wh. to cream-colored powd., si. organic odor, tasteless sol. in hot or cold water producing vise, highly-pseudoplastic sol ns. insol. in oils, most org. soivs. vise, 600 cps min. unaffected by high or low pH... 

Uses Emollient, skin conditioner in cosmetics Soybean (Glycine soja) meal Synonyms Soyabean meal Soybean meal Definition Crushed residue obtained from soybeans after expressing the oil Uses Source of protein for feedstuffs organic filler casein-based wood adhesives binder for paper coatings plastics microbial fermentation nutrient medium for bacitracin prod. 

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