Biobutanol production by immobilized clostridium beijerinckii TISTR 1461 onto carbon materials

Abstract

Piyawat Chinwatpaiboon, author

Biobutanol is considered as one of the most attractive biofuels because it has an energy density closer to gasoline. It can be produced via Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation using Clostridium species. There are numerous attempts to improve butanol production via cell immobilization to increase cell density and productivity. Furthermore, cell immobilization can protect microbial cells from environmental stresses and operate for a long period with stable operation. Activated carbon, a highly porous material with a large adsorption capacity, was used as an immobilized material for the fermentation process. Clostridium beijerinckii TISTR1461 was adsorbed on the activated carbon, which was treated with various chemicals. The DARCO® activated carbon was treated by different chemicals; nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The results were analyzed and compared to a free cell system. The aminosilane treatment provided the highest butanol concentration of 10.66 g/l.