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Analysis of the Continuous Bioconversion of Glycerol by Promotion of Highly Glycerol-Resistant Glycerol-Degrading Bacteria

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Abstract

Purpose

We identified component microorganisms in a fed-batch operation by modulating the mixed flora via addition of glucose to achieve continuous bioconversion of hardly degradable glycerol.

Methods

To study the microbial community structure of the flora accumulated by the addition of glucose, 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was sequenced using PCR with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).

Results

Burkholderia vietnamiensis, Burkholderia phenoliruptrix, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus licheniformis, and Clostridium pasteurianum were identified as component strains. Using the colony containing C. pasteurianum, the hydrogen yield was 0.34 mol/(mol glycerol). C. pasteurianum, B. licheniformis, B. vietnamiensis, and B. phenoliruptrix utilized both glycerol and glucose as substrates and could tolerate high glycerol loads. In early fermentation, predominance of the hydrogen-producing C. pasteurianum resulted in the conversion of glycerol into hydrogen and 1,3-propanediol. In contrast, in late fermentation, the auxiliary degradation of B. licheniformis and the two Burkholderia strains enabled continuous conversion of the glycerol to valuable compounds.

Conclusions

Glucose addition results in a stable flora by optimizing the ratio of highly glycerol-resistant glycerol-degrading bacteria, thereby establishing an anaerobic digestion process that allows continuous conversion of high loads of glycerol.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant No. JP19656243 and JP21241022 from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, an Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through Target-driven R&D (A-STEP) from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and a research grant from the Japan Soap and Detergent Association (JSDA). The sponsors had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Osaka Prefecture University College of Technology, 26-12 Saiwai-cho, Neyagawa, Osaka, 572-8572, Japan

    Kensuke Kurahashi

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan

    Keisuke Hisada, Mai Kashiwagi & Toshiyuki Nomura

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan

    Shizue Yoshihara & Hayato Tokumoto

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  1. Kensuke Kurahashi
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  2. Keisuke Hisada
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Correspondence to Hayato Tokumoto.

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Kurahashi, K., Hisada, K., Kashiwagi, M. et al. Analysis of the Continuous Bioconversion of Glycerol by Promotion of Highly Glycerol-Resistant Glycerol-Degrading Bacteria. Waste Biomass Valor 10, 3321–3330 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0344-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0344-4

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