Work

Efficient butanol production from sweet sorghum stem juice by a co-culture system at an optimum temperature: Insights from oxidation-reduction potential monitoring and pilot scale validation

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: A two-stage co-culture approach was employed in an acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. An obligate aerobic bacterium, Arthrobacter sp., was first grown for 6 h at 30 °C to create anaerobic conditions. Subsequently, Clostridium beijerinckii TISTR 1461 was inoculated and a fermentation was performed at 37 °C. To identify an intermediate temperature suitable for both microorganisms, their growth was examined at 30, 34, and 37 °C. C. beijerinckii exhibited the highest specific growth rate at 37 °C, while Arthrobacter sp. displayed similar growth rates at all tested temperatures. Butanol production from a synthetic medium (P2 medium) by C. beijerinckii at different temperatures using oxygen-free nitrogen (OFN) gas flushing as a control treatment revealed that fermentation at 37 °C gave the highest butanol concentration ( P B , 9.98 g/L). Consequently, 37 °C was chosen for butanol production from sweet sorghum stem juice (SSJ) by co-culture of these two microorganisms in 1-L screw–capped bottles. Compared to the control treatment, higher P B (11.38 g/L), yield ( Y B/S , 0.37 g/g) and productivity ( Q B , 0.24 g/L·h) were achieved using the co-culture system. These results were further confirmed by monitoring the oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) during ABE fermentation in a 2-L stirred-tank bioreactor (STR). Moreover, when the co-culture fermentation at 37 °C was scaled up in a 30-L STR, the P B , Y B/S and Q B values were comparable to those obtained in the 2-L STR. Therefore, co-culture fermentation of Arthrobacter sp. and C. beijerinckii TISTR 1461 at 37 °C represents a promising method for large-scale butanol production.

Source: Carbon Resources Conversion

DOI: 10.1016/j.crcon.2024.100284

Authors: Chalida Daengbussadee, Pattana Laopaiboon, Chyi-How Lay, Lakkana Laopaiboon

Institutions: Khon Kaen University, Feng Chia University

Language: English

Topic: Biofuel production and bioconversion

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Zero hunger, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,100