Production of Acetic Acid from Ethanol by Cells Immobilized in Calcium-Alginate Gel

Author : Mata, Amaya Baranuelo
Major Adviser : Chay, Pham Binh
Committee Members :
Year : 1991
Month : May
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract

Acetic acid was produced from ethanol rate Acetobacter sp. Vfilm in a tower fermentor. The effects of initial ethanol concentration and aeration rate on the continuous production of acetic acid by Acetobacter sp. Vfilm cells immobilized in calcium-alginate gel were investigated. The maximum acetic acid concentration, productivity, and fermentation efficiency were achieved  at an initial ethanol concentration of 40 g/l and aeration rate of of 1.348 vvm (optimum initial ethanol aeration rate). Increasing the ethanol concentration to up to 70 g/l reduced the production of acetic acid. Furthermore, lowering the aeration rate to up to 0.434 vvm also decreased the aceticacid production.

Comparison of the optimum continuous process with batch process employing free Acetobacter sp. Vfilm cells showed that the rate of acetic acid production by batch mode seems to be higher than that of the continuous one. This difference was attributed to a possible rates of free and immobilized Acetobacter sp. Vfilm and to a probable loss in efficiency of the immobilized cells.

To improve the production of acetic acid by Acetobacter sp. Vfilm cells immobilized in calcium-alginate gel, optimization of the immobilization procedure, medium and dilution rate can be done. Also, ethanol and acetic acid evaporation losses can be sufficiently reduced by using oxygen-enriched air at low aeration rates.

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