Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology & Biocatalysis

The Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology and Biocatalysis is active in the field of industrial biotechnology. Industrial Biotechnology (white biotechnology) is the application of biotechnology for the industrial production and processing of chemical substances, materials and bio-energy. Industrial microbiology mainly uses micro-organisms and their enzymes to make useful products, such as bulk and fine chemicals, food ingredients, pharmaceutical ingredients, bio-fuels, bio-plastics, etc. It relies on the use of renewable resources as raw materials and as such, it can reduce our dependency on increasingly expensive petroleum, contribute to attaining the Kyoto objectives by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and provide significant support for European agriculture by creating new markets for agricultural commodities.

The laboratory comprises a group of about 30 academics and is part of the Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology of Ghent University.