Wood pulp as an immobilization matrix for the continuous production of isopropanol and butanol

Abstract

The study was focused on developing a continuous method to produce an alcohol mixture suitable to be used as a gasoline supplement. The immobilized column reactor with wood pulp fibers was successfully used for the continuous production of butanol and isopropanol using Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 6423. A sugar mixture (glucose, mannose, galactose, arabinose and xylose) representing lignocellulose hydrolysate was used as a substrate for the production of solvents. The effect of dilution rate on solvent production was studied during continuous operation. The maximum total solvent concentration of 11.99g/l was obtained at a dilution rate of 0.16h(-1). The maximum solvent productivity (5.58g/lh) was obtained at a dilution rate of 1.5h(-1). The maximum solvent yield of 0.45g/g from sugar mixture was observed at 0.25h(-1). The system will be further used for the solvent production using wood hydrolysate as a substrate.