Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Extractive fermentation of acetic acid

Economic tradeoff between yield ofClostridium and concentration ofAcetobacter

  • Published:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this technoeconomic evaluation of the manufacture of acetic acid by fermentation, the use of the bacterium:Acetobacter suboxydans from the old vinegar process was compared with expected performance of the newerClostridium thermoaceticum bacterium. Both systems were projected to operate as immobilized cells in a continuous, fluidized bed bioreactor, using solvent extraction to recover the product.

Acetobacter metabolizes ethanol aerobically to produce acid at 100 g/L in a low pH medium. This ensures that the product is in the form of a concentrated extractable free acid, rather than as an unextractable salt. Unfortunately, yields from glucose by way of the ethanol fermentation are poor, but near the biological limits of the organisms involved.

Conversely, C.thermoaceticum is a thermophilic anaerobe that operates at high fermentation rates on glucose at neutral pH to produce acetate salts directly in substantially quantitative yields. However, it is severely inhibited by product, which restricts concentration to a dilute 20 g/L.

An improvedAcetobacter system operating with recycled cells at 50 g/L appears capable of producing acid at $0.38/lb, as compared with a $0.29/lb price for synthetic acid. However, this sytem has only a limited margin for process improvement.

The presentClostridium system cannot compete, since the required selling price would be $0.42/lb. However, if the organism could be adapted to tolerate higher product concentrations at acid pH, selling price could be reduced to $0.22/lb, or about 80% of the price of synthetic acid.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Forster, D. (1976),J. Am. Chem. Soc. 98(3), 846.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Busche, R. M., “Acetic Acid—Industrial Market Volume and Potential,” Bio En-Gene-Er Associates, Inc, May28, 1987.

  3. Reisch, M. S., “Top 50 Chemicals Production Slowed Markedly Last Year,” C&E News, 11–15, Apr. 9, 1990.

  4. Herrick, H. T. and May, O. E. (1935),Chem. & Metallurg. Eng. 42, 142.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lai, M. N. and Wang, I. H., “A Rapid Process of Manufacturing Vinegar,” U.S./R.O.C. Symposium on Fermentation Engineering Fundamentals, Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, May 30-June 1,1978.

  6. Owens, C. H. (1937), US Patent 2,089,412.

  7. Hansen, A. E. (1935),Food Inc. 7, 277.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang, D. I. C, Felipe, V., and Tyo, M. A., “Production of Food Grade Acetic Acid by Fermentation,” U.S./R.O.C. Symposium on Fermentation Engineering Fundamentals, University of Pennsylvania, May 30-June1, 1978.

  9. Nickol, G. B. (1979), “Vinegar,”Microbial Technology 2d ed., Peppier, H. J. and Perlman, D., eds., Academic Press, New York, pp. 155–172.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Andreesen, J. R., Schaupp, A., Neuranter, C., Brown, A., and Ljungdahl, L. G. (1973),J. Bacteriol. 114(2), 743–751.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Schwartz, R. D. and Keller, F. A. Jr. (1982),Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 43, 117.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wang, D. I. C. (1982), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, private communication.

  13. Yates, R. A. (1981), US Patent 4,282,323.

  14. Ljungdahl, L. G. (1976),Trans. Ind. Biol. Soc. 63, 64.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Busche, R. M. (1983),Biotech. & Bioeng. Symp. 13, 597–615.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Busche, R. M., Shimshick, E. J., and Yates, R. A. (1982),Biotech. & Bioeng. Symp. 12, 249–262.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Busche, R. M. (1985),Biotechnology—Applications & Research, Cheremisinoff, P. N. and Ouellette, R. P., eds., Technomic Publishing Co, Lancaster, PA.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Null, H. R. (1980),Chem. Eng. Prog. 76, 42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Perry, R. H., Chilton, C. H., and Kirkpatrick, S. D. (1963),Perry’s Chemical Engineer’s Handbook, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co, New York, pp. 3–113.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mongan, E. L. /r., Engineering Department, E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Co, Inc., private communication, June 9, 1981.

  21. Green, D. W. (1984),Perry’s Chemical Engineers’Handbook, 6th ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co, New York, pp. 15–10.

    Google Scholar 

  22. King, C. J. (1983),Handbook of Solvent Extraction, Lo, T. C, Baird, M. H. I., and Hanson, C., eds., John Wiley, New York, pp. 567–573.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Brown, W. V. (1963),Chem. Eng. Prog. 59, 65.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Yates, R. A., Central Research & Development Dept, E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Co, Inc., private communication, Dec. 1977.

  25. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Techology (1978), 3rd ed., Grayson, M., ed., vol. 2, John Wiley, New York, pp. 533–535.

  26. King, C. J. (1987),Handbook of Separation Process Technology, Rocisseau, R. W., ed., John Wiley, New York, pp. 760–774.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wang, D. I. C., Fleischchaker, R. J., and Wang, G. Y. (1978),Biochemical Engineering: Renewable Sources of Energy and Chemical Feedstocks, Nystrom, J. M. and Barnett, S. M., eds., AIChE Symp.74, 181.

  28. Bar, R. and Gainer, J. L. (1987),Biotech. Prog. 3, 109–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Chem. Mkt. Reporter, April 27, 1990.

  30. Davison, B. H. and Scott, C. D. (1986),Biotech. & Bioeng. Symp. 17, 629–632.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Davison, B. H. and Scott, C. D. (1988),Appl. Biochem. Biotech. 18, 19–34.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Scott, C. D. (1983),Biotech. & Bioeng. Symp. 13, 237–238.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Rogers, P. I., Lee, K. J., Skotnicki, M. L., and Tribe, D. E. (1982),Adv. Biochem. Eng. 23, 37–84.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Rogers, P. I., Lee, K. J., and Tribe, D. E., “High Productivity Ethanol Fermentations withZymomonas mobilis,” Process Biochem. U. New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, Aug./Sept. 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Rogers, P. I., Lee, K. J., Skotnicki, M. L., and Tribe, D. E. (1981),Advances in Biotechnology, vol. 2, Young, M. M. and Robinson, C. W., eds., Pergamon Press, pp. 189–194.

  36. Cysewski, G. R. and Wilke, C. R. (1977),Biotech & Bioeng. 19, 1125–1143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Montenecourt, B. S. (1985),Biology of Industrial Microorganisms, Dumain, A. L. and Solomon, N., eds., Ben Cummings, pp. 261–289.

  38. Swings, J. and Deley, J. (1977),Bacterial Rev. 41, 1–46.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Fosberg, T. M. and Claussen, H. L. (1982),TAPPI 65, 63.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Beesley, A. H. and Rhinesmith, R. D. (1980),Chem. Eng. Prog. 76, 37.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Macek, S., Dedert Corp, Olympic Fields, IL, private communication, Apr. 25, 1989.

  42. Super, J., Engineering Dept, E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Co. Inc, private communication, Apr. 30, 1989.

  43. Davison, B. H., Oak Ridge National Laboratory, private communication, Dec. 13, 1988.

  44. McNabb, J. E., “World Energy Outlook Through 2000,” Conoco Inc, Wilmington, DE, Sept. 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Lynch, M. C. (1988),Chem. Eng. Prog. 20.

  46. McCartney, S., “Surge in Price of Oil Foreseen in Next Decade, ”News Journal, Wilmington, DE, p. BIO, Dec. 12, 1988.

  47. Gupte, P., “Price Surge Ahead,”Forbes, p. 55, Dec. 12, 1988.

  48. Anon, “Oil Futures Prices Jump,”News Journal, Wilmington, DE, p. 86, Jan. 17, 1898.

  49. Layman, P. L., “Middle East Chemical Industry Eyes New Products, Markets,”C&E News, p. 20, Mar. 6, 1989.

  50. Jasper, S. “Oil Service Stocks Are Ready to Soar,”News Journal, Wilmington, DE, p. BIO, Mar. 13, 1989.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio En- Gene- Er Associates, Inc., Wilmington, DE

    Robert M. Busche

Authors
  1. Robert M. Busche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Busche, R.M. Extractive fermentation of acetic acid. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 28, 605–621 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02922636

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02922636

Index Entries

Search

Navigation