Production of solvents by Clostridium acetobutylicum cultures maintained at neutral pH

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5609781

Holt, R A; Stephens, G M; Morris, J G

The formation of acetone and n-butanol by Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIB 8052 (ATCC 824) was monitored in batch culture at 35 degrees C in n of acetone and n-butanol by Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIB 8052 (ATCC 824) was monitored in batch culture at 35 degrees C in a glucose (2% (wt/vol)) minimal medium maintained throughout at either pH 5.0 or 7.0. At pH 5, good solvent production was obtained in the unsupplemented medium, although addition of acetate plus butyrate (10 mM each) caused solvent production to be initiated at a lower biomass concentration. At pH 7, although a purely acidogenic fermentation was maintained in the unsupplemented medium, low concentrations of acetone and n-butanol were produced when the glucose content of the medium was increased (to 4% (wt/vol)). Substantial solvent concentrations were, however, obtained at pH 7 in the 2% glucose medium supplemented with high concentrations of acetate plus butyrate (100 mM each, supplied as their potassium salts). Thus, Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIB 8052, like Clostridium beijerinckii VPI 13436, is able to produce solvents at neutral pH, although good yields are obtained only when adequately high concentrations of acetate and butyrate are supplied. Supplementation of the glucose minimal medium, with propionate (20 mM) at pH 5 led to the production of some n-propanol as well as acetone and n-butanol; the final culture medium was virtually acid free. At pH 7, supplementation with propionate (150 mM) again led to the formation of n-propanol but also provoked production of some acetone and n-butanol, although in considerably smaller amounts than were obtained when the same basal medium had been fortified with acetate and butyrate at pH 7.

• Research Organization: Univ. College Wales, Aberystwyth, England
• OSTI ID: 5609781
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 48:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
09 BIOMASS FUELS
ACETONE
BIOSYNTHESIS
BUTANOLS
CLOSTRIDIUM ACETOBUTYLICUM
BATCH CULTURE
PROPANOLS
ACETATES
CULTURE MEDIA
GLUCOSE
PH VALUE
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BACTERIA
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CLOSTRIDIUM
HEXOSES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
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