Development of a biofilm technology for the production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) from crude glycerol

作者：Casali Silvia; Gungormusler Mine; Bertin Lorenzo; Fava Fabio; Azbar Nuri^*

来源：Biochemical Engineering Journal, 2012, 64: 84-90.

DOI：10.1016/j.bej.2011.11.012

• 1,3-Propanediol
• Citrobacter freundii
• Fermentation
• Glycerol immobilized cells
• Packed bed bioreactors
• Pantoea agglomerans

Glycerol is the main by-product of transesterification of fats in the biodiesel production. 1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PDO) is a valuable chemical that can be obtained from glycerol by microbial conversion. A number of Enterobacteriaceae species are able to produce 1,3-PDO from glycerol in stirred tank freely suspended cell bioreactors. Little is known about the use of crude glycerol in the production of 1,3-PDO and about the opportunity to intensify the process via strain immobilization in packed bed bioreactors. %26lt;br%26gt;In this work. Citrobacter freundii, strain DSM 15979, and Pantoea agglomerans, strain DSM 30077, were tested for their ability to produce 1,3-PDO from crude glycerol in shaken flask batch conditions and in packed bed biofilm reactors operating under continuous conditions. Three different hydraulic retention times (HRT) were comparatively tested (8, 4 and 2 h) in order to understand its effects on 1,3-PDO production under immobilized cell conditions. The study revealed that HRT significantly influenced the process performances. The best productivities were observed when a HRT of 2 h was applied. However, both strains were found to be good candidates for 1,3-PDO production in biofilm reactors, even though P. agglomerans displayed quite higher productivities (3.6 g/(Lh)) than the other strain.

• 出版日期2012-5-15