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Traditional antimicrobial methods, such as antibiotics and disinfectants, may cause adverse effects, such as bacterial resistance and allergic reactions. Photocatalysts based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) have shown great potential in the field of antimicrobials because of their high efficiency, lack of pollution, and lack of side effects. This paper focuses on the antimicrobial activity of TiO2 under different light sources. To improve the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2, we can reduce electron-hole recombination and extend the photocatalytic activity to the visible light region by doping with different ions or compounds and compounding with polymers. We can also improve the surface properties of materials, increase the contact area with microorganisms, and further enhance the resistance to microorganisms. In addition, we also reviewed their main synthesis methods, related mechanisms, and main application fields to provide new ideas for the enhancement of photocatalytic microorganism performance and application popularization in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ternary Ag3PO4/g-C3N4/hydroxyapatite photocatalyst was prepared, and its morphology, composition and structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and electron spin resonance, etc. The results show that g-C3N4 is evenly dispersed in the interior of hydroxyapatite, forming a homogeneous composite, and significantly improves the band gap structure of the material as a whole. Ag3PO4/g-C3N4/hydroxyapatite has good electron transfer ability and an appropriate energy band structure, which shows that the material has a good degradation effect and stability. Finally, based on the characterization and experimental results, a possible Z-scheme mechanism was proposed, and the active species involved in the reaction are mainly ·O2− and h+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Succinic acid is an important C4 platform compound that serves as a raw material for the production of 1,4-butanediol, tetrahydrofuran, and biodegradable plastics such as polybutylene succinate (PBS). Compared to the traditional petrochemical-based route that uses maleic anhydride as a raw material, the microbial fermentation method for producing succinic acid offers more sustainable economic value and environmental friendliness. Yeasts with good acid tolerance can achieve low-pH fermentation of succinic acid, significantly reducing the cost of product extraction. Therefore, constructing high-yield succinic acid yeast strains through metabolic engineering has garnered increasing attention. This paper systematically introduced the application value and market size of succinic acid, summarized the pathways and key enzymes involved in succinic acid synthesis in microorganisms, and elaborated on the latest research progress in the synthesis of succinic acid using yeast cell factories. It also presented the current status of succinic acid synthesis using non-food raw materials such as glycerol, acetic acid, lignocellulosic hydrolysate, and others as substrates by engineered yeast strains. Finally, the paper provided a prospect for low-pH succinic acid biomanufacturing based on yeast cell factories.