Optimization of hydrogen and butanol production from agave guishe juice using Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC824

Abstract

Substrate selection is crucial to achieve cost feasibility in acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. Therefore, the aim of this study was the optimization of hydrogen and butanol production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC824 using Agave lechuguilla juice as low-cost substrate. Effects of C/N ratio, temperature and butyric acid addition were first evaluated conventionally (one factor at a time). Butyric acid addition showed an adverse effect in the process. In optimization studies, C/N ratio, temperature and guishe juice concentration were investigated using response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design. Results revealed that temperature and juice concentration had significant influence, whether C/N ratio have no significant effect. Under optimum conditions, 5.96 g/L butanol and 4.37 L/L were produced. This study demonstrates the potential of guishe juice as a low-cost feedstock for hydrogen and butanol production, indicating a promising approach for further research into the full valorization of Agave lechuguilla through a biorefinery conceptualization.