Two-stage continuous process for producing a solvent
AssigneeGreen Biologics Limited
InventorsEdward Green, Rosa Maria Dominquez-Espinosa
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a two stage continuous microbiological process for the production of solvents such as acetone, butanol and ethanol. Preferably, the process involves the use of a solventogenic bacteria such as clostridia. In the first (acidogenic) stage, the culture vessel is fed with fresh growth media at dilution rates that support fast growth and acid production. The culture flows into the second (solventogenic) stage, which is a separate culture vessel or vessels, designed to provide the culture with sufficient residence time to convert acids into solvents. Preferably this vessel is tubular or a series of linked batch vessels.
Claims20
A two-stage process for the production of a solvent using an acid- and solvent-producing micro-organism, comprising the steps:
- (i) culturing the micro-organism under acidogenic conditions in a liquid medium in a first culture vessel,
- wherein the pH of the liquid medium in the first culture vessel is controlled by a pH auxostat, and
- wherein the flow rate of fresh media which is introduced into the first culture vessel is also controlled by a pH auxostat;
- (ii) transferring a portion of the liquid medium from the first culture vessel to a second culture vessel or series of linked culture vessels;
- and
- (iii) culturing the same micro-organism under solventogenic conditions in the second culture vessel(s) for a time which is sufficient for solvent to be produced, and optionally isolating one or more solvents which are produced in the second culture vessel(s).
A system for the production of a solvent, the system comprising:
- (i) a first culture vessel which contains or is adapted to contain a liquid medium suitable for acidogenic growth of an acid- and solvent-producing micro-organism,
- (ii) one or more second culture vessels which contain or are adapted to contain a liquid medium suitable for solventogenic growth of the acid- and solvent-producing micro-organism, and
- (iii) a pH auxostat,
- wherein the pH auxostat is arranged to control the pH of the liquid medium in the first culture vessel, and
- wherein the first and second culture vessels are in liquid communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.