Abstract
1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PDO) is a bifunctional organic compound could potentially be used for many synthesis reactions, in particular as a monomer for polycondensations to produce polyesters, polyethers and polyurethanes. 1,3-PDO also has a number of other interesting applications: solvents, adhesives, laminates, resins, detergents and cosmetic. This molecule can be obtained by chemical or biochemical route, but only the last one is operating industrially. It can be produced from renewable resources as glycerin using microorganisms. A number of microorganisms can ferment glycerol to 1,3-propanediol, but the most studied species are Klebsiella pneumonia, Citrobacter freundii, Clostridium butyricum and Lactobacillus brevis. This is an interesting route because the biodiesel production increases every year in Brazil, producing an excess of glycerin. The present work investigated the 1,3-PDO production capacity of Clostridium butyricum NCIMB 8082 using glycerin as substrate. Initially, this strain was grown in two different mediums from literature at 35 °C and 250 rpm in 250 ml SCOOT flasks. The 1,3-PDO was produced in both conditions. In medium 1, the conversion into 1,3-PDO was 50 % and the productivity was 0.32 g.L-1.h-1. In medium 2, the conversion into 1,3-PDO was 56 % and the productivity was 0.21 g.L-1.h-1. These experiments showed that C. butyricum NCIMB 8082 is a good producer of 1,3-PDO. So, fed-batch fermentation was performed in a bioreactor 1 L with pH control and Cl. butyricum NCIMB 8082 showed to be a potential producer of 1,3-propanediol. The productivity of 1,3-propanediol was 1.29 g.L-1.h-1 and the yield was 0.56 g.g-1.
