title: Conversion of sugars to 1,2-propanediol by Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum HG-8.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore a fermentation route for the production of 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) from renewable sugars: lactose found in cheese whey, and D-glucose, D-galactose, L-arabinose, and D-xylose found in corn and wood byproducts. Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum, a naturally occurring organism, was found to ferment a wider range of sugars to 1,2-PD than previously reported. The specific sugar had a significant effect on the selectivity for 1,2-PD vs other fermentation products such as ethanol, D- and L-lactate, and acetate. T. thermosaccharolyticum potentially provides an environmentally friendly route to a major commodity chemical now made from petrochemicals.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemical Engineering and Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1691, USA.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Altaras
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Etzel
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002611:Cheese; D005285:Fermentation; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019946:Propylene Glycol