Butanol toxicity in the butylic fermentation

Abstract

A fundamental study has been initiated, attempting to elucidate the mechanism for butanol toxicity in the acetone-butanol fermentation by C. acetobutylicum. The results obtained to date have shown that butanol, when added to the fermentation at concentrations equivalent to those observed in industrial fermentations (0.1 to 0.15M) causes 50% inhibition of both the cell growth and sugar uptake rates. Ethanol was found not to be inhibitory at typical fermentation levels. Preliminary data indicates that energy in the form of ATP is coupled to the transport of sugars across the cell membrane via ATPase.