Nipa Sap Can Be Both Carbon and Nutrient Source for Acetic Acid Production by Moorella thermoacetica (f. Clostridium thermoaceticum) and Reduced Minimal Media Supplements

Abstract

Nipa sap is an excellent microbial nutrient and carbon source since it contains essential minerals and vitamins, in addition to sugars. In this study, nipa sap was successfully fermented to acetic acid by the industrially important Moorella thermoacetica without additional trace metals, without inorganics, or without yeast extract. Although microbial growth kinetics differed from one nutrient condition to another, acetic acid concentrations obtained without trace metals, without inorganics, and without yeast extract supplements were in the same range as that with full nutrient, confirming that nipa sap is a good nutrient source for M. thermoacetica. Fermentations in vials and fermenters showed comparable acetic acid production trends but acetic acid concentrations were higher in fermenters. Upon economic analysis, it was found that the most profitable nutrient condition was without yeast extract. It reduced the cost of culture medium from $1.7 to only $0.3/L, given that yeast extract costs $281/kg, while nipa sap can be available from $0.08/kg. Minimal medium instead of the traditional complex nutrient simplifies the process. This work also opens opportunities for profitable anaerobic co-digestion and co-fermentation of nipa sap with other biomass resources where nipa sap will serve as an inexpensive nutrient source and substrate.