Abstract
Continuous anaerobic fermentations were performed in a biofilm reactor packed with Poraver® beads. Dilution rates (D) varied between 0.054 and 0.72 h−1, and d-glucose and CO2 gas were used as carbon substrates. Steady-state conditions were shown to be repeatable and independent of the operational history. Production stability was achieved over periods exceeding 80 h at values of D below 0.32 h−1. In these situations, steady-state variation (expressed as fluctuations in NaOH neutralisation flow rates) exhibited a standard deviation of less than 5 % while no indication of biofilm deactivation was detected. The total biomass amount was found to be independent of the dilution rate with an average dry concentration of 23.8 ± 2.9 g L−1 obtained for all runs. This suggests that the attachment area controls the extent of biofilm accumulation. Specific succinic acid (SA) productivities, based on the total biomass amount, exhibited a substantial decrease with decreasing D. An SA volumetric productivity of 10.8 g L−1 h−1 was obtained at D = 0.7 h−1—the highest value reported to date in Actinobacillus succinogenes fermentations. SA yields on glucose increased with decreasing D, with a yield of 0.90 ± 0.01 g g−1 obtained at a D of 0.054 h−1. Production of formic acid approached zero with decreasing D, while the succinic to acetic acid ratio increased with decreasing D, resulting in an increasing SA yield on glucose.
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The financial assistance of the National Research Foundation (NRF) towards this research is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the author and are not necessarily to be attributed to the NRF.
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Maharaj, K., Bradfield, M.F.A. & Nicol, W. Succinic acid-producing biofilms of Actinobacillus succinogenes: reproducibility, stability and productivity. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 7379–7386 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-5779-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-5779-3