Selected Products of Bioprocessing digging a bit deeper
Acetic Acid Ancient process Romans and Greeks – beverage no big deal, they just left their wine vat open to the air
Acetic acid bacteria Gluconobacter oxydans: ethanol to acetic acid via oxidation Acetobacter: ethanol to acetic acid to CO 2 and H 2 O
Bit of biochemistry CH 3 CH 2 OH CH 3 CHO CH 3 CH(OH) 2 CH 3 COOH ethanol acetaldehyde acetaldehyde acetic acid hydrate ethanol hydration acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2H + Respiration ATP + H 2 O 2H +
Process details aerobic process at 12% acetic acid, 30% cells dead in seconds after air cut off
Bioreactor huff and puff ethanol feed beechwood chips cooling and recycle 29 o C 35 o C 60 m 3 tank