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Methods for increasing the production of ethanol from microbial fermentation

  • US 8,647,851 B2
  • Filed: 12/08/2011
  • Issued: 02/11/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A continuous method for producing ethanol comprising:

  • culturing in a fermentation bioreactor a strain of Clostridium ljungdahlii bacteria in a continuously fed liquid nutrient medium to provide a fermentation broth;

    supplying to said fermentation bioreactor a gaseous substrate comprising carbon monoxide; and

    maintaining a specific rate of CO uptake in said fermentation bioreactor at an amount of 0.3 to 2 mmol CO/gram dry cells weight of bacteria per minute in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieve a stable cell concentration in the fermentation bioreactor;

    wherein the bacteria produce both ethanol and acetate in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1;

    1 to 20;

    1; and

    wherein the bacteria produces both ethanol and butanol in a ratio of ethanol to butanol of 34.3 to 38.7.

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