USE OF CLOSTRIDIUM-ACETOBUTYLICUM P262 FOR PRODUCTION OF SOLVENTS FROM WHEY PERMEATE

The production of solvents from whey permeate in batch fermentation using Clostridium acetobutylicum P262 was examined. An overall reactor productivity of 0.24 g/l.h was observed, representing a marked improvement over reports using other strains of clostridia. Using a semi-synthetic medium galactose was shown to be as effective a substrate as glucose. When they permeate was used in which the lactose was hydrolysed prior to fermentation, preferential uptake of glucose over galactose was observed, and such hydrolysis provided no advantage to the fermentation process.