Bacterial fermentation of cellulose: Effect of physical and chemical parameters

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Abstract
Acetivibrio celluloyticus converts cellulose directly to ethanol, acetate, H2, and CO2. The effects of various physical and chemical parameters, and their interdependence, including pH, temperature, redox, and ethanol toxicity on this fermentation, were studied. Controlling pH at 6.8 favored a predominance of ethanol over acetate. Supplementation of the medium with additional reductant, concomitant with a lower redox potential, incresed ethanol formation. Results from ethanol‐challenged cultures indicated that cell lysis occurs with growing but not with nongrowing cells. A stable strain was adapted for growth in ethanol concentrations almost sevenfold greater than the parent organism.