Bioprocessing

The Reconquista River, the second most polluted river in Argentina, accumulates large amounts of organic matter and persistent toxic pollutants in its sediments. These conditions drive the selection of microorganisms with the potential to degrade contaminants and facilitate bioremediation. Notably, these microorganisms form biofilms on clay minerals, enabling them to survive under extreme conditions and alter the properties of the sediments.

The biological process of succinic acid (SA) production can simultaneously reduce the dependency on fossil-based resources and sequester CO2 to synthesize value-added products. In the present study, an acid-tolerant engineered strain was employed to minimize waste (e.g., gypsum) generation in downstream processing and contamination risks. The cost of the fermentation medium is a crucial factor for the industrial production of SA. Corn steep liquor (CSL) was utilized to formulate a low-cost medium for synthesizing SA.