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Optimization of the microbial synthesis of dihydroxyacetone from glycerol with Gluconobacter oxydans

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Abstract

An optimized repeated-fed-batch fermentation process for the synthesis of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) from glycerol utilizing Gluconobacter oxydans is presented. Cleaning, sterilization, and inoculation procedures could be reduced significantly compared to the conventional fed-batch process. A stringent requirement was that the product concentration was kept below a critical threshold level at all times in order to avoid irreversible product inhibition of the cells. On the basis of experimentally validated model calculations, a threshold value of about 60 kg m-3 DHA was obtained. The innovative bioreactor system consisted of a stirred tank reactor combined with a packed trickle-bed column. In the packed column, active cells could be retained by in situ immobilization on a hydrophilized Ralu-ring carrier material. Within 17 days, the productivity of the process could be increased by 75% to about 2.8 kg m-3 h-1. However, it was observed that the maximum achievable productivity had not been reached yet.

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Abbreviations

K O :

Monod half saturation constant of dissolved oxygen (kg m-3)

K S :

Monod half saturation constant of substrate glycerol (kg m-3)

O :

Dissolved oxygen concentration (kg m-3)

P :

Product concentration (kg m-3)

P crit :

Critical product concentration constant (kg m-3)

S :

Substrate concentration (kg m-3)

t :

Time (s)

X :

Biomass concentration (dry weight) (kg m-3)

Y P/S :

Yield coefficient of product from substrate

Y X/S :

Yield coefficient of biomass from substrate

α :

Growth dependent specific production rate constant (kg m-3)

β :

Growth independent specific production rate constant (s-1)

μ :

Specific growth rate (s-1)

μ max :

Maximum specific growth rate constant (s-1)

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Acknowledgements

The financial support of this work by the Volkswagen-Stiftung, Hannover, Germany, by grant No. I/72433, is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemical Engineering, Munich University of Technology, Boltzmannstrasse 15, 85747 , Garching, Germany

    D. Hekmat & R. Bauer

  2. Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany

    J. Fricke

Authors
  1. D. Hekmat
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  2. R. Bauer
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  3. J. Fricke
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Correspondence to D. Hekmat.

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Hekmat, D., Bauer, R. & Fricke, J. Optimization of the microbial synthesis of dihydroxyacetone from glycerol with Gluconobacter oxydans . Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 26, 109–116 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-003-0338-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-003-0338-9

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