Producing Enzymes for Detergents Using Bacteria

Producing Enzymes for Detergents Using Bacteria Dr. Öğretim Üyesi Mine Güngörmüşler from the Department of Genetics and Bioengineering at İzmir Ekonomi Üniversitesi (İEÜ) and two master's students examined bacterial species from 5 thermal springs in İzmir to determine their energy production potential. The İEÜ team, which has been conducting research for 15 months by collecting thermal water samples and discovering the capacity of bacterial species to produce 'biohydrogen', revealed the ore content in the thermal springs. As a result of research conducted with samples taken from thermal springs in Seferihisar, Çeşme, Bergama and Dikili; it was determined that bacteria classified as anaerobic and thermophilic, which do not harm human health, convert carbon monoxide into hydrogen. Dr. Güngörmüşler stated, "Bioenergy obtained from bacteria can be used as fuel in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, in many areas of industry, and even in space rockets. We measured the highest efficiency of bacteria in terms of hydrogen energy production potential at Seferihisar Doğanbey Thermal Spring." The project, in which Assistant Professor Dr. Mine Güngörmüşler from the Department of Genetics and Bioengineering at İEÜ worked together with master's students Şeymanur Ersoy and İlayda Akaçin, was implemented with TÜBİTAK support. The İEÜ team took samples from Seferihisar Doğanbey Thermal Spring, Dikili Nebiler Thermal Spring, Dikili Bademli Thermal Spring, Bergama Kleopatra Güzellik Ilıcası Source and Çeşme Yıldızburnu Ilıcası. Samples taken from the thermal springs were brought to the İEÜ laboratories for necessary examination.

Clean and Environmentally Friendly

Dr. Güngörmüşler provided information on the methods of the research conducted and the advantages it will provide. Dr. Güngörmüşler stated, "The goal of our project was to demonstrate that hydrogen, a clean, environmentally friendly and sustainable fuel, can be obtained through bacteria in thermal springs, in response to the damage caused by fossil fuel consumption and high carbon emissions to the environment. We placed the samples we took from the thermal springs in glass bottles. These bacteria live in oxygen-free environments and hot water. We added carbon monoxide and the nutrients necessary for bacterial growth into the glass bottle containing the bacteria. Just as bread yeast grows by consuming sugar, the bacteria we obtained grow by using carbon monoxide as a 'carbon source'. During this process, it also produces energy."

Bacteria Need to be Multiplied

Dr. Güngörmüşler continued, "These bacteria have no negative effects on human health. Of course, to reach the point of producing 'biohydrogen', the bacteria need to be significantly multiplied. One of the goals in our project was to demonstrate that it is possible to benefit from these bacteria in this regard. I believe we have succeeded in this. In the world, there are industrial facilities that perform bacterial multiplication using these methods. It is possible to obtain many advantages by utilizing these bacteria in various sectors such as food, cosmetics and chemicals."

Enzymes are also Being Produced

Stating that bacteria can be used in different fields besides energy production, Dr. Güngörmüşler said: "Not only energy production, but bacteria can also be utilized to obtain enzymes. For example, it is possible to produce enzymes that give detergents stain removal properties by using these bacteria. In our study, we also calculated the biohydrogen production efficiency of the bacteria we have. In simple terms, bacteria can convert approximately 100 units of toxic carbon monoxide into about 50 units of biohydrogen. Although this figure is not high at the moment, in the second phase of our project we aim to increase these efficiencies significantly. By using extreme bacterial species found in İzmir thermal springs and living at high temperatures, we may have also contributed to a sustainable bioeconomy." Şeymanur Ersoy and İlayda Akaçin, who participated in the project as scholarship holders and continue the research, stated: "Hydrogen, accepted as the cleanest fuel that does not cause carbon emissions among sustainable fuels, has come to the fore worldwide in recent years. Being part of a study on this has added a lot to us both in terms of knowledge and experience. Our work on the project continues. We can say that we have contributed to an exciting and noteworthy study. We are very grateful to the academics who supported us." Researcher Assistant Professor Dr. Osman Doluca from İEÜ, Assistant Professor Dr. Tuğba Keskin Gündoğdu from İzmir Demokrasi Üniversitesi and Dr. Haris Nalakath Abubackar from Spain are also involved in the project conducted by Dr. Mine Güngörmüşler.