rok 2007 - Fakulta chemickej a potravinárskej technológie

IV. CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
A. VEGA Project No. 1/2390/05 Evaluation of agroindustrial materials using biotechnological
means by application of microorganisms producing metabolites for food, agriculture,
pharmacy and veterinary uses (Milan Čertík)
The project is based on physiological regulation of microbial production of essentials polyunsaturated and
conjugated fatty acids, squalene and sterol derivatives, organic acids (lactic acid), polyols (erythritol), ethanol,
pigments (carotenoids, azaphilonic metabolites, mitorubrinic acid), polyketide metabolites and pharmaceutical
using agroindustrial sources. Observations gained from parameter studies and optimisation of fermentation
process provide useful information about aimed regulation of biochemical processes in fermentation technologies
a thus they will create basis for link between basic and applied research that will have uses in both domestic and
international research in this field. The project will result in proposals of equipments for experimental transfer from
laboratory scale to semi-industrial scale. Fermentation preparation of these metabolites will contribute to
expanding of their application in food, medical, pharmaceutical and veterinary practices.
Project duration: from 01.01.2005 to 31.12.2007
B. VEGA project No.1/2391/05 Fermentation processes, bio-ethanol production,
microorganisms, immobilisation systems, wine, beer (Daniela Šmogrovičová)
The aim of this project is to develop areas of biotechnology using fermentation processes with free and
immobilized cells of microorganisms, for purpose of ethanol fermentation improvement in fermented beverages
and bio-ethanol production. The focus will be on production of classical beverages fermentation productivity –
traditionally fermented and special beer, different categories of wine and of fermented beverages with lowered
content of alcohol and bio-ethanol production from renewable starch resources. Within the project possibility of
“very high gravity“ technologies – uses concentrated substrates – will be verified. An increase in gravity results in
higher metabolic activity and increased ethanol production, but an effect of osmotic pressure and toxicity of
produced ethanol affected cell viability. Since immobilised cells show various modifications in physiology and
metabolic activity, biochemical composition and morphology, as well, an application of immobilised yeast can
improve their ability to ferment concentrated substrates in dependence on carrier and technique used for
immobilisation and protect the yeast cells against osmotic and ethanolic stress. Immobilisation also influence
yeast by metabolites co-production and consequently flavour and character of fermented beverage. Systematical
introduction of immobilization principle with continualisation of the processes should be driven to their practical
application. Integration of up-to-date knowledge about yeast and bacteria metabolism should result into
improvement of fermentation and production of alternative beverages, as well as bio-ethanol.
Project duration: from 01.01.2005 to 31.12.2007
C. VEGA Project No 1/4357/07 Bioremediation of soil contaminated by degradation products
of the pesticides of the chlorophenols series: potential use of organomineral complex (OMC),
humic acids, and zeolite (Katarína Dercová)
The project has an ambition to bring new knowledge regarding the binding of organic contaminants of the
chlorophenol series (predominantly pentachlorophenol - PCP) onto inorganic and organic parts of the tested
sorbent – organomineral complex (OMC, produced by binding humic acids onto zeolite) and to study sorption
abilities of humic acids isolated from different sources (e.g. lignite and oxyhumolite) for detoxification purposes in
contaminated soil. The potential effect of humic acids on improvement of biodegradation will be studied as well.
Immobilization processes observed in natural soil are of a great environmental importance as they may lead to a
considerable reduction in the bioavailability and, as a result, of a toxicity of xenobiotics, e.g. pesticides or their
degradation products. This may then lead to facilitation of biodegradation after a subsequent release of the bound
chlorophenols due to the activity of microorganisms and decrease of pH (acid rains). Investigation of the effect of
chlorophenols on microbial cells of the indigenous bacterial consortium or bioaugmented bacteria and ecotoxicity
of soil will be also included in the project because presence of these compounds markedly influences
biodegradation ability, survival, and colonization of microorganisms at their application in bioremediation
technologies during decontamination.
Project duration: from 01.01.2007 to 31.12.2009
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