Directed metabolic flow with high butanol yield and selectivity in continuous cultures of Clostridium acetobutylicum

Abstract

This work addresses the problem of stable butanol formation by Clostridium acetobutylicum in continuous culture. Sustained altered electron flow was observed in the presence of benzyl viologen which serves to redirect carbon flow towards primarily butanol formation. A yield of butanol of over 0.28 g.g-1 glucose was obtained and butanol comprised over 90% of the total solvents formed. Additionally, acid formation decreased significantly with butyric acid as the dominant acid end product. © 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers.