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1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PD) is one of the important products used in chemical industry, in particular for polyesters production (e.g. polyethers and polyurethanes). Using crude glycerol for producing 1,3-PD is a good solution from the economical as well as ecological point of view. Glycerol produced by cleavage of natural fats can be microbially converted to 1.3-propanediol by, among others, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Lactobacillus, Enterobacter, and Clostridium strains. Biotechnological production of 1,3-PD from waste biomass is a promising and attractive alternative to the traditional chemical synthesis. The production of 1,3-PD by glycerol fermentation was already reported in 1881. The microbiological bioconversion pathway of glycerol to 1,3-PD has been known for long but the microorganisms taking part in this fermentation are not efficient. In addition, they are pathogenic. Consequently, natural producers of 1,3-PD are still being sought. In this review we present a historical outline of 1,3-PD production, as well as the microorganisms and their metabolic pathways that are involved in glycerol fermentation to 1,3-PD.

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Wastewater samples originating from an explosives production plant (3,000 mg N l−1 nitrate, 4.8 mg l−1 nitroglycerin, 1.9 mg l−1 nitroglycol and 1,200 mg l−1 chemical oxygen demand) were subjected to biological purification. An attempt to completely remove nitrate and to decrease the chemical oxygen demand was carried out under anaerobic conditions. A soil isolated microbial consortium capable of biodegrading various organic compounds and reduce nitrate to atmospheric nitrogen under anaerobic conditions was used. Complete removal of nitrates with simultaneous elimination of nitroglycerin and ethylene glycol dinitrate (nitroglycol) was achieved as a result of the conducted research. Specific nitrate reduction rate was estimated at 12.3 mg N g−1 VSS h−1. Toxicity of wastewater samples during the denitrification process was studied by measuring the activity of dehydrogenases in the activated sludge. Mutagenicity was determined by employing the Ames test. The maximum mutagenic activity did not exceed 0.5. The obtained results suggest that the studied wastewater samples did not exhibit mutagenic properties.