INFLUENCE OF ADJUSTED pH IN THE PRODUCTION OF BUTANOL BY CLOSTRIDIUM PASTEURIANUM NRRL B-598

Abstract

RESUMO -Butanol has become an interesting substitute for ethanol in fuel applications. Several Clostridium strains are able to produce butanol by ABE fermentation. The aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of initial pH in butanol production by Clostridium pasteurianum NRRL B-598 in cane molasse and corn steep liquor medium. Experiments were performed in serum flasks for 48hours with pH adjusted to 5.6, 6.5 and 7.3 before sterilization. Cell density, substrate and products concentrations were analyzed by HPLC. Condition of pH 7.3 showed the highest butanol titer (3.83 g.L -1 ) and yield (0.34 gbutanol.gsucrose -1 ) at 48 hours of fermentation.