Continuous production of 1,3-propanediol using raw glycerol with immobilized Clostridium beijerinckii NRRL B-593 in comparison to suspended culture

Abstract

The continuous production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) was investigated with Clostridium beijerinckii NRRL B-593 using raw glycerol without purification obtained from a biodiesel production process. Ceramic rings and pumice stones were used for cell immobilization in a packed-bed bioreactor. For comparison purpose, a control bioreactor with suspended culture was also run. The effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the production of 1,3-PDO in both immobilized and suspended bioreactors were also investigated. The study revealed that HRT is an important factor for both immobilized and suspended systems and a HRT of 2 h is the best one in terms of volumetric production rate (g 1,3-PDO/L/h). Furthermore, cell immobilization had also obvious benefits especially for the robustness and the reliability of the production. The results indicated that cell immobilization achieved a 2.5-fold higher productivity in comparison to suspended cell system. Based on our results, continuous production of 1,3-PDO with immobilized cells is an efficient method, and raw glycerol can be utilized without any pretreatment.

Use of Glycerol in Biotechnological Applications

“…Similar concentrations (56 g l -1 ) were reported by Hiremath et al who used glycerol obtained from Jatropha seed biodiesel production (Hiremath et al, 2011). C. beijerinckii was also reported to produce 1,3-PDO from raw glycerol (Gungormusler et al, 2011). Notably, productivity was increased to 1.51 g l -1 h -1 when using raw glycerol as compared to 0.84 g l -1 h -1 when using pure glycerol .…”

“…Gungormusler et al reported 1,3-PDO production from raw glycerol with use Clostridium beijerinckii cells immobilized to ceramic rings and pumice stones in combination with a hydraulic retention time system. They could show an increase in productivity and yield for 1,3-PDO production and predicted a maximal 1,3-PDO production rate of 30 g l -1 h -1 (Gungormusler et al, 2011).…”

Microbial Conversion of Waste Glycerol from Biodiesel Production into Value-Added Products

“…Benefits conferred by cell immobilization might include increased stability in unfavorable environmental conditions during operation as well as avoiding washout [33,131,132]. For example, with microencapsulation, the biomass of K. pneumoniae was increased 2.6-fold compared to free cell cultures [33].…”

Principles, techniques, and applications of biocatalyst immobilization for industrial application

“…It was observed that cell immobilization had better robustness and reliability compared to suspended cells. Production in packed bed bioreactor designed with immobilization system achieved 2.5-fold higher productivity compared to free system, which had advantageous properties over free cell system (Gungormusler et al 2011). The production of lactose with β-D-galactosidase in a packed bed bioreactor was studied with immobilized yeast cells in calcium alginate gel (Panesar et al 2010).…”