Question

Can bacteria ferment alcohol?

Answer 1

Bacteria:

1. Bacteria are small single-cell organisms present everywhere on the earth.
2. Bacteria are present in different shapes and sizes.
3. Some bacteria are harmful and some are useful to us.
4. Examples Lactobacillus, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) etc.

Fermentation:

1. Fermentation is a metabolic process by which a complex compound breaks down into a simple compound with the help of enzymes.
2. For example, sugar or starch is converted into alcohol or acid by the process of fermentation.
3. Yeast performs fermentation by converting sugar into alcohol to obtain energy.
4. Bacteria also perform fermentation by converting carbohydrates into lactic acid.

Bacterial fermentation:

1. Fermentation by bacteria is anaerobic.
2. They use organic molecules as final electron acceptors to produce the end product of fermentation.
3. Alcohol fermentation is done by using yeast and some bacteria.
4. Example - Saccharomyces convert sugar to ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.
5. Hence, bacteria can ferment alcohol.