Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Napoleon Ballroom C-D, 3rd fl (Sheraton New Orleans)
We converted crude glycerol, derived from the biodiesel, to 1,3-propanediol, using Klebsiella pneumonia DSM4799. The experiment was scaled up from 5 to 100 l under anaerobic condition. Seed culture increased the production of 1,3-propanediol through aerobic/anaerobic 2-stage fermentation. Inoculum was first incubated on a LB slant, and then incubated on a liquid medium. The 500mL flasks, a 5 l bioreactor and a 100 l bioreactor containing pre-culture medium were used as the liquid seed culture for first, second, and third-stage, respectively. Glycerol was initially at 40 g l-1, and additional glycerol was added whenever it becomes between 10 g l-1 to 15 g l-1 to maintain the initial concentration of 40 g l-1. During the fermentation, (NH4)2SO4 and yeast extract were added in a pulse type. The pH was controlled at 7.0 by automatic addition of 10M KOH, and the temperature was controlled at 37°C. The experiment of 100 l fermentation achieved the result of 1,3-propanediol up to 100 g l-1, an yield of 0.55 g g-1, and a productivity of 2.0 g l-1 h-1.