POTASSIUM ACETATE BY FERMENTATION WITH CLOSTRIDIUM-THERMOACETICUM

Potassium acetate is currently made by reacting petroleum-based acetic acid with potassium hydroxide. An alternate process, anaerobic fermen tation of dextrose with Clostridium thermoaceticum, could be used and could possibly be cheaper. Growth characteristics and productivity of the fermentation were optimized to maximize acetate concentration in t he broth. The effects of pH, type, and concentrations of nutrients and reducing agents were also evaluated. Corn steep liquor and stillage f rom an ethanol plant were effective and much cheaper substitutes for y east extract. Preconcentrating the cells by ultrafiltration improved p roductivity, resulting in an acetic acid concentration of 53.6 g/L in 50 h at pH 6.5 using corn steep liquor. Sodium sulfide could be substi tuted for cysteine as the reducing agent with yields greater than 0.9 g acetic acid/g glucose.