Fermentation of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol by Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae was shown to convert glycerol to 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol and ethanol under conditions of uncontrolled pH. Formation of 2,3-butanediol starts with some hours' delay and is accompanied by a reuse of the acetate that was formed in the first period. The fermentation was demonstrated in the type strain of K. pneumoniae, but growth was better with the more acid-tolerant strain GT1, which was isolated from nature. In continuous cultures in which the pH was lowered stepwise from 7.3 to 5.4, 2,3-butanediol formation started at pH 6.6 and reached a maximum yield at pH 5.5, whereas formation of acetate and ethanol declined in this p range 2,3-Butanediol and acetoin were also found among the products in chemostat cultures grown at pH 7 under conditions of glycerol excess but only with low yields. At any of the pH values tested, excess glycerol in the culture enhanced the butanediol yield. Both effects are seen as a consequence of product inhibition, the undissociated acid being a stronger trigger than the less toxic diols and acid anions. The possibilities for using the fermentation type described to produce 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol almost without by-products are discussed.

The Effect of Biodiesel by-Products on Germination and Plant Growth

“…The measurment of biologically active functions of organic matter, such as microbial biomass C, N, P and potential C, N and P mineralization were better able to reflect changes in soil quality and productivity (Patel et al, 2010). Biebl et al (1998) have analysed fermentation of glycerol by Klebsiella pneumoniae (Biebl et al, 1998;Zeng et al, 1993). Biebl also investigated fermentation of glycerol in the case of Clostridium pasteurianum batch (Biebl, 2001).…”

Use of Glycerol in Biotechnological Applications

“…Because 1,3-propanediol production is preferably carried out from glycerol e.g. by K. pneumoniae and because 2,3-BDO is a known byproduct of this process (Biebl et al, 1998), glycerol might be a good substrate for 2,3-BDO production. Production of 2,3-BDO from glycerol by K. pneumoniae G31 resulted in final concentrations of 49.2 g l -1 .…”

“…First glycerol is dehydrated by glycerol dehydratase to 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, which is subsequently converted to 1,3-propanediol by 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase. Predominantly, 1,3-propanediol production has been approved with Clostridium strains, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Escherichia coli (Zhu et al 2002, Biebl et al 1998, Forsberg, 1987. 1,3-propanediol finds application in the production of the polyester polytrimethylene terephthalate.…”

Experimental Design For 1,3-Propanediol Biosynthesis by K. Pneumoniae GLC29 Using Glycerol

“…However, new applications are being studied for large volumes of biodiesel glycerol, since it can't be used in food and cosmetics industries without a cleaning and refining process [7]. Glycerol may be used as carbon source in bioprocesses, and several species among the genera Clostridium, Citrobacter, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas [5,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] are being studied for the biotransformation of glycerol from biodiesel to specialty chemicals. One promising solution is the use of biodiesel glycerol to produce 1,3-propanediol (1, by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Clostridium butyricum [14,15].…”