| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300934 | Renewable Energy | 2012 | 5 Pages |
Performance of the ABE fermentation and integrated product recovery by cyclic vacuum was investigated in a 14-l bioreactor containing initial glucose concentration of 60 g l−1 at 35 °C. The cyclic operation consisted of 2 h-vacuum-cycles separated by 4 h-fermentation intervals at atmospheric pressure. Application of periodic vacuum sufficed to eliminate butanol inhibition of Clostridium beijerinckii 8052 culture, which tolerated alternate vacuum and atmospheric pressures. A 39% reduction in the energy requirement for acetone butanol ethanol (ABE) fermentation and in situ recovery by vacuum was achieved by changing the mode of vacuum operation from continuous (24 h vacuum time) to cyclic (12 h vacuum time). Analysis of the overall energy consumption for ABE fermentation and recovery (vacuum fermentation + distillation) demonstrated that cyclic vacuum ABE fermentation is more energy efficient than the conventional batch fermentation.
► ABE fermentation and integrated product recovery by cyclic vacuum was investigated. ► The cyclic operation consisted of 2 h-vacuum-cycles separated by 4 h-fermentation intervals at atmospheric pressure. ► Clostridium beijerinckii 8052 can tolerate alternate pressure conditions. ► Application of periodic vacuum sufficed elimination of butanol toxicity to C. beijerinckii. ► Cyclic vacuum ABE fermentation is more energy efficient than the conventional process.
