Microbial Conversion Of Raw Glycerol To 1,3-Propanediol By Clostridium Butyricum NRRL B-1024

Biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) has attracted considerable attention during the past decade as a renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic fuel. Synthesis of biodiesel generates glycerol as the main by-product. Growth inhibition of Clostridium butyricum NRRL B-1024 by commercial glycerol and raw glycerol from a palm oilbased biodiesel production process was evaluated. C. butyricum NRRL B-1024 exhibited the same tolerance to raw glycerol (87 persen w/v) and to commercial glycerol (87 persen w/v). Furthermore, 1,3-propanediol production from commercial and raw glycerol, without any prior purification, was observed in batch and fed-batch cultures, on a synthetic medium. No significant differences were found in C. butyricum fermentation patterns on raw and commercial glycerol as the sole carbon source. For both types of cultures, the conversion yield obtained was around 0.6 mol of 1,3-propanediol formed per 1 mol of glycerol consumed. The highest 1,3-propanediol endconcentration achieved during fed-batch cultures was 32–34 g/l , with productivities of 0.66–0.71 g/l / h. Asean Korea Symposium and Workshop on Biorefinery Technology. Hlm: 5. 2010. ISBN: 78-979-97789-9-4