Kinetics of Bioethanol Production from Glycerol by Enterobacter Aerogenes

Abstract

Kinetics of ethanol production from glycerol as sole carbon source using Enterobacter aerogenes were evaluated in batch fermentation with initial glycerol range from 10 to 120 g L-1 under 240 hr incubation at 30°C and pH 7. E. aerogenes was able to grow and produce the maximum ethanol concentration of 136.7 mM at the initial glycerol concentration of 20 g L-1. At this glycerol concentration, glycerol was completely utilized after 40 hr fermentation and ethanol yield was 0.7 mol mol-1. Microbial growth appeared to decrease when the initial glycerol concentrations were increased. In the initial glycerol concentration range of 10-45 g L-1, glycerol utilization was approximately 90% after 40 hr fermentation. Minimal amount volatile fatty acids and 1, 3-propanediol were detected.