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Microbial production of a biofuel (acetone–butanol–ethanol) in a continuous bioreactor: impact of bleed and simultaneous product removal

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Abstract

Acetone butanol ethanol (ABE) was produced in an integrated continuous one-stage fermentation and gas stripping product recovery system using Clostridium beijerinckii BA101 and fermentation gases (CO2 and H2). In this system, the bioreactor was fed with a concentrated sugar solution (250–500 g L−1 glucose). The bioreactor was bled semi-continuously to avoid accumulation of inhibitory chemicals and products. The continuous system was operated for 504 h (21 days) after which the fermentation was intentionally terminated. The bioreactor produced 461.3 g ABE from 1,125.0 g total sugar in 1 L culture volume as compared to a control batch process in which 18.4 g ABE was produced from 47.3 g sugar. These results demonstrate that ABE fermentation can be operated in an integrated continuous one-stage fermentation and product recovery system for a long period of time, if butanol and other microbial metabolites in the bioreactor are kept below threshold of toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) grant numbers CFAR 0II-042-1 and IDA CF 01E-35-1; and in part by Northeast Sungrant (Cornell University) Award/Contract number GRT00012344. We would like to thank Michael A. Cotta (United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, USA) and Dr. James Kinder (Chair, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University) for reading this manuscript and providing critical comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio State Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), The Ohio State University, 305 Gerlaugh Hall, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA

    Thaddeus Chukwuemeka Ezeji

  2. Bioenergy Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N University Street, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

    Nasib Qureshi

  3. Biotechnology and Bioengineering Group, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, 1207 W Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Hans Peter Blaschek

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  1. Thaddeus Chukwuemeka Ezeji
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  2. Nasib Qureshi
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  3. Hans Peter Blaschek
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Correspondence to Thaddeus Chukwuemeka Ezeji or Nasib Qureshi.

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Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing scientific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Ezeji, T.C., Qureshi, N. & Blaschek, H.P. Microbial production of a biofuel (acetone–butanol–ethanol) in a continuous bioreactor: impact of bleed and simultaneous product removal. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 36, 109–116 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-012-0766-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-012-0766-5

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