FERMENTATION PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION AND CONTROL OF PYRUVATE-DERIVED PRODUCTS

摘要

A process for producing and controlling pyruvate derived products during the fermentation of a CO containing substrate by an acetogenic carboxydotrophic microorganism has been developed. The process involves increasing the concentration of at least one nutrient selected from the group consisting of vitamin B1, vitamin B5, vitamin B7 and mixtures thereof above the cellular requirement of the microorganism. When the concentration is increased, the production of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) increases whereas the production of the other metabolites is virtually unchanged. The effect is reversible so that when the concentration is decreased, the production of 2,3-BDO is also decreased. This allows one to control the ratio of ethanol: 2,3-BDO to a desired value which can vary from 4:1 to 1:2.