Isolation of Syntrophic Bacteria on Metabolic Intermediates

Abstract

Both obligate and facultative proton-reducing anaerobic bacteria are affected by changes in the hydrogen partial pressure. The first group of microorganisms includes mainly acetogenic bacteria which oxidize compounds like ethanol, propionate, butyrate, benzoate or phenol to acetate, (C0₂) and hydrogen (Dolfing, 1988). These reactions are only feasible at low hydrogen partial pressures and therefore carried out in syntrophy with hydrogenotrophic bacteria. The second group consists of a wide variety of fermentative bacteria able to dispose reducing equivalents as hydrogen or in the form of reduced organic compounds. The presence hydrogenotrophs leads to a shift in fermentation products.