Effect of pressurized solvents on ethanol production by the thermophilic bacterium Clostridium thermocellum

B. L. Knutson, H. J. Strobel, S. E. Nokes, K. A. Dawson, J. A. Berberich, C. R. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inhibition of microbial metabolism due to the presence of metabolic products leads to reduced yields in some fermentation processes. In-situ extraction of inhibitory fermentation products is one method to increase the product yield. Solvent compatibility with the microorganism is an important criterion in the selection of extractant solvents. Although supercritical CO2 has been investigated for the post-fermentation extraction of metabolic products, it has generally been rejected for in-situ extraction due to its inhibition of the metabolism of numerous microorganisms. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of dense gases and supercritical fluids (nitrogen, CO2, and ethane) on the carbohydrate consumption and ethanol formation by a model organism, Clostridium thermocellum, a fibrolytic thermophilic bacterium. Non-growing cells capable of metabolism were incubated at 60°C with cellobiose as a substrate in the presence of the three pressurized fluids. The fermentation broth was sampled with time for residual cellobiose and ethanol concentration. The rate and extent of ethanol production were similar in cell suspensions maintained at atmospheric pressure under nitrogen (conventional method) and at 6.9 MPa under nitrogen. Ethane at 6.9 MPa reduced the extent of ethanol production by less than 20% relative to the atmospheric control, whereas CO2 at the same pressure reduced ethanol formation by more than 80%. These results suggest that pressurized hydrocarbons may have benefits over supercritical CO2 for the in-situ recovery of volatile fermentation products. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-156
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Supercritical Fluids
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 1999

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the National Science Foundation (Grant BES-9817069). This work was partially supported with funds from the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station under project KY007007 and was published with the approval of the director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station as journal article no. 99-07-59.

Keywords

  • Fermentation
  • In-situ extraction
  • Supercritical carbon dioxide
  • Supercritical ethane
  • Thermophilic bacteria

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemical Engineering (all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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