THE CLOSTRIDIUM THERMOCELLUM-CLOSTRIDIUM THERMOSACCHAROLYTICUM ETHANOL PRODUCTION PROCESS: NUTRITIONAL STUDIES AND SCALE-DOWN

Abstract
The Clostridium thermocellum-Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum mixed culture system has been scaled down into flasks in defined medium MJ with Solka Floe as carbon source. The best saccharolytic culture for use with the cellulolytic, anaerobic thermophile C. thermocellum ATCC 27405 was found to be C. thermosaccharolyticum HG-8 when compared to Clostridium thermo-hydrosulfuricum strain 39E or Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus ATCC 31937. The defined medium was optimized for a high cellulose concentration by increasing the level of FeSO4 and by replacing 3-[N-morpholino] propane sulfonic acid (MOPS) buffer by sodium bicarbonate.