Butanol Production by a Novel Efficient Method Using Mixed Cultures of Clostridium beijerinckii and Arthrobacter sp. in Stirred-Tank and Gas-Lift Bioreactors

Arthrobacter sp. BCC 72131, an obligate aerobic bacterium, was used to create anaerobic conditions, and Clostridium beijerinckii TISTR 1461 as a butanol producer in acetone-butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation. Sweet sorghum juice (SSJ) medium containing 60 g/L of total sugar supplemented with 1.27 (NH4)2SO4 production (BP) medium. inoculated into the BP 1-L screw-capped bottles. After 2, 4, 6 12 h cultivation at 30 °C, C. transferred start 37 °C. The results showed that inoculation after gave highest titer (PB) 12.56 g/L, yield (YB/S) volumetric productivity (QB) 0.34 g/g 0.23 g/L·h, respectively. These values are approximately 10–27% higher than those control experiment using single culture oxygen-free nitrogen (OFN) gas flushing conditions. Field emission scanning electron microscopic (FE-SEM) images cells, well protein free amino concentrations broth during fermentation were also studied confirm results. then carried out 5.6-L stirred-tank 1.2-L low-cost gas-lift bioreactor by mixed cultures optimal time inoculation. PB, YB/S QB obtained not significantly different from Hence, can be novel method conditions instead traditional employing OFN flushing. Using 72131 is practical produce on large-scale, both complex bioreactors.