title: Biotransformation of furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 during butanol fermentation.
abstract: The ability of fermenting microorganisms to tolerate furan aldehyde inhibitors (furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF)) will enhance efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates to fuels and chemicals. The effect of furfural and HMF on butanol production by Clostridium acetobutylicum 824 was investigated. Whereas specific growth rates, μ, of C. acetobutylicum in the presence of furfural and HMF were in the range of 15-85% and 23-78%, respectively, of the uninhibited Control, μ increased by 8-15% and 23-38% following exhaustion of furfural and HMF in the bioreactor. Using high performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometric assays, batch fermentations revealed that furfural and HMF were converted to furfuryl alcohol and 2,5-bis-hydroxymethylfuran, respectively, with specific conversion rates of 2.13g furfural and 0.50g HMF per g (biomass) per hour, by exponentially growing C. acetobutylicum. Biotransformation of these furans to lesser inhibitory compounds by C. acetobutylicum will probably enhance overall fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates to butanol.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Department of Animal Sciences and Ohio State Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), 305 Gerlaugh Hall, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691, USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Thaddeus Chukwuemeka
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ezeji
mesh_terms: D001711:Biotransformation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000440:Butanols / Q000378:metabolism*; D046969:Clostridium acetobutylicum / Q000254:growth & development*; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols; C036909:lignocellulose; C008046:5-hydroxymethylfurfural; D008031:Lignin; D005662:Furaldehyde