Synergistic positive effect of organic acids on the inhibitory effect of phenolic compounds on Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) production

The results were confirmed by using a substrate of molasses. Better fermentation was achieved with beet molasses due to the lower concentration of phenolics, especially catechin. The fermentation using beet and cane sugar refining molasses as substrate (60 g/L) provided an ABE yield of 0.40 g ABE/g sugars and 0.31 g ABE/g sugars, respectively and ABE concentrations of 12.3 g/L (205 g ABE/kg beet molasses) and 7 g ABE/L (120 g ABE/kg cane molasses).