title: Microencapsulation of Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 spores in gellan gum microspheres for the production of biobutanol.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to provide further insights on the applicability of microencapsulation using emulsification method, to immobilise Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 spores, for biobutanol production. The encapsulated spores were revived using heat shock treatment and the fermentation efficiency of the resultant encapsulated cells was compared with that of the free (non-encapsulated) cells. The microspheres were easily recovered from the fermentation medium by filtration and reused up to five cycles of fermentation. In contrast, the free (non-encapsulated) cells could be reused for two cycles only. The microspheres remained intact throughout repeated use. Although significant cell leakage was observed during the course of fermentation, the microspheres could be reused with relatively high butanol yield, demonstrating their role as microbial cell nurseries. Both encapsulated and liberated cells contributed to butanol production.
authors.affiliation: GEA-NUS Pharmaceutical Processing Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore , Singapore.
authors.forename: Sweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wan Sia Heng
authors.forename: Lai Wah
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000440:Butanols / Q000378:metabolism*; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D046969:Clostridium acetobutylicum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005285:Fermentation; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods; D008863:Microspheres; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C048288:gellan gum
keywords: Cell nurseries; emulsification; fermentation; microencapsulation; reusability