Prodn. of fuels based on butanol and acetone - by fermentation of cellulose hydrolysate

摘要

Process according to Parent Patent for prodn. of a fuel (esp. a mixt. of butanol and acetone, opt. contg. isopropanol and/or ethanol) comprises (a) obtaining cellulolytic enzymes by culturing a suitable microorganism, (b) using the enzymes to hydrolyse a cellulosic substrate, and (c) fermenting the resulting hydrolysate. Step (a) is pref. effected with a bacterium of the genus Clostridium or a fungus of the genus Sporotrichum, Polyporus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Myrothecium or Trichoderma. Step (b) is pref. effected at 30-60 deg.C and pH 3.5-6.5. The substrate can be waste paper, cereal straw, bagasse, maize stems and cobs, wood shavings,etc. which have been treated mechanically (e.g. by grinding) and/or chemically (e.g. with NaOH). Step. (c) is effected under anaerobic conditions, pref. at 25-40 deg.C and pH 4-7.5, using a bacterium of the genus Clostridium, e.g. C. acetobutylicum or related spp. to produce butanol and acetone, and opt. C. butylicum or related spp. to produce butanol and isopropanol.