Ethanol production by a thermophilic and anaerobic bacterium using xylose
There are many research programs presently investigating the use of cellulosic biomass for the conversion to useful chemicals and fuels. An inherent property of cellulosic biomass is that the raw material contains both cellulosic and hemicellulosic fractions. Although many research programs are focusing on the utilization of the cellulosic fraction which is composed of polyglucose, one must recognize an equally important fraction of cellulosic biomass is the hemicellulosic fraction. In particular, the hemicellulose containing pentose units, must be effectively utilized if a feedstock such as biomass is to be effectively converted. In the past, most of our research has been conducted in effective utilization of the cellulosic fractions, in particular glucose. In this paper the hemicellulosic fractions with respect to its utilization for the production of a useful product, ethanol is addressed. This paper is part of an overall project in the effective utilization of biomass for the conversion to ethanol. We will, however, focus on our activities on the utilization of the five carbon sugars, xylose, with respect to the conversion of this material to ethanol. It is the intent of this paper to address the conversion of xylose to the production of ethanol. In particular, we have selected to examine the metabolism of an anaerobic and thermophilic bacterium, Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum, with respect to its ability to utilize pentose sugar, xylose, and the means to achieve improved conversion of this sugar to ethanol. In addition, methods can be used to increase the concentration of ethanol produced from xylose.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge
- OSTI ID:
- 5084823
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-800814-P1
- Journal Information:
- Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Vol. 25:3; Conference: 180. American Chemical Society meeting/2. chemical congress of the North American Continent, San Francisco, CA, USA, 24 Aug 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CLOSTRIDIUM
METABOLISM
ETHANOL
BIOSYNTHESIS
XYLOSE
FERMENTATION
BIOCONVERSION
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BACTERIA
CARBOHYDRATES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PENTOSES
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
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