1,3-Propanediol production and tolerance of a halophilic fermentative bacterium, Halanaerobium saccharolyticum subsp saccharolyticum

1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PD) is widely used in polymer industry in production of polyethers, polyesters and polyurethanes. In this article, a study on 1,3-PD production and tolerance of Halanaerobium saccharolyticum subsp. saccharolyticum is presented. 1,3-PD production was optimized for temperature, vitamin B-12 and acetate concentration. The highest 1,3-PD concentrations and yields (0.6 mol/mol glycerol) were obtained at vitamin B-12 concentration 64 mu g/l and an inverse correlation between 1,3-PD and hydrogen production was observed with varying vitamin B12 concentrations. In the studied temperature range and initial acetate concentrations up to 10 g/l, no significant variations were observed in 1,3-PD production. High initial acetate (29-58 g/l) was observed to cause slight decrease in 1,3-PD concentrations produced but no effects on 1,3-PD yields (mol/mol glycerol). Initial 1,3-PD concentrations inhibited the growth of H. saccharolyticum subsp. saccharolyticum. When initial 1,3-PD concentration was raised from 1 g/l to 57 g/l, a decrease of 12% to 75%, respectively, in the highest optical density was observed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.