Continuous production of butanol by Clostridium acetobutylicum immobilized in a fibrous bed bioreactor.
We explored the influence of dilution rate and pH in continuous cultures of Clostridium acetobutylicum. A 200-mL fibrous bed bioreactor was used to produce high cell density and butyrate concentrations at pH 5.4 and 35degreesC. By feeding glucose and butyrate as a cosubstrate, the fermentation was maintained in the solventogenesis phase, and the optimal butanol productivity of 4.6 g/(L h) and a yield of 0.42 g/g were obtained at a dilution rate of 0.9 h-1 and pH 4.3. Compared to the conventional acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation, the new fermentation process greatly improved butanol yield, making butanol production from corn an attractive alternative to ethanol fermentation.
Huang
Wei-Cho
WC
Department of Chemical Engineering, Ohio State University, 140 West 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Ramey
David E
DE
Yang
Shang-Tian
ST
D000096:Acetone / Q000737:chemistry; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D000440:Butanols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003013:Clostridium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005285:Fermentation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D000440:Butanols; D003470:Culture Media; D000096:Acetone; D000431:Ethanol