Summary
A fermentation of ethyl alcohol under the influence of Methanobacterium Omelianskii and an associated spore-forming bacterium is described in which the alcohol is converted into acetic, butyric and caproic acids. At the same time there occurs a reduction of carbon dioxide to methane. The data provide direct evidence for the formation of butyric and caproic acids by a condensation of a C2-compound which probably is acetaldehyde.
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Bibliography
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Division of Plant Nutrition, University of California, Berkeley, California. The author takes great pleasure in expressing his indebtedness to Prof. A. J. Kluyver for extending the hospitality of the Delft laboratory and for his interest, encouragement and advice during the progress of the work.
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Barker, H.A. The production of caproic and butyric acids by the methane fermentation of ethyl alcohol. Archiv. Mikrobiol. 8, 415–421 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407210
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407210