can be used in various applications, including in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, lotions, ointments, and antiperspirants. Butanediol itself even has applications in the pharmaceutical industry as a drug carrier. Natural occurrences 2,3-butanediol can be produced naturally in various places in the environment. A few places are sweet corn, fermented soybean curds, whole and ground grains, rotten mussels, and during the fermentation of fruits and grains. Alternative bacteria strains Using mesophilic bacteria requires the fermentation process to occur below 40 °C, which can cause bacterial contamination due to the low temperature. On the industrial scale, this requires sterilization steps which means a special facility must be built, more employees are needed to run this extra step, and more energy is consumed at the plant. A novel aerobic Geobacillus strain XT15 has been shown to produce 2,3-butanediol at a temperature between 45 and 55 °C. This higher temperature will avoid the risk of contamination because microorganisms that live in normal environments cannot reproduce above 45 °C. The Geobacillus strain XT15 is thermophilic, which allows it to be able to operate fermentation at this higher temperature. Sterilization would not be necessary using this alternative strain making the manufacturing process more efficient and cost-effective. References Further reading External links Fermentation