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Medium-Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA) Production Through Anaerobic Fermentation Using Clostridium kluyveri: Effect of Ethanol and Acetate

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Abstract

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are saturated monocarboxylic acids and can be used as antimicrobials, corrosion inhibitors, precursors in biodiesel, and bioplastic production. In the present study, MCFA production was evaluated with acetate and ethanol using the bacteria Clostridium kluyveri. Effects of substrate, electron donor, and methane inhibitor on MCFA production were evaluated. Bacteria successfully converted the ethanol and acetate to butyrate (C4), caproate (C6), and caprylate (C8) by chain elongation process. The highest concentrations of butyrate (4.6 g/l), caproate (3.2 g/l), and caprylate (0.5 g/l) were obtained under methane inhibition conditions than other conditions. The productions of butyrate and caproate were 1.6 and 1.48 times higher under methane inhibition conditions, respectively. Results denoted that the bacteria C. kluyveri can be used for conversion of acetate and ethanol into useful products like butyrate and caproate.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. M. V. Reddy gratefully acknowledges the JSPS for providing post-doctoral fellowship (ID No: P15352).

Funding

This work was supported by funding from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS, 15F15352).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Sciences, College of Environmental Technology, Muroran Institute of Technology, 27-1 Mizumoto, Muroran, 050-8585, Japan

    M. Venkateswar Reddy & Young-Cheol Chang

  2. Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad, 500007, India

    S. Venkata Mohan

Authors
  1. M. Venkateswar Reddy
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  2. S. Venkata Mohan
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  3. Young-Cheol Chang
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Correspondence to M. Venkateswar Reddy or Young-Cheol Chang.

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Reddy, M.V., Mohan, S.V. & Chang, YC. Medium-Chain Fatty Acids (MCFA) Production Through Anaerobic Fermentation Using Clostridium kluyveri: Effect of Ethanol and Acetate. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 185, 594–605 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2674-2

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