Effect of the lactic acid as a substrate on the butyric acid production by Clostridium beijerinckii 4A1 – preliminary data

In recent years, interest in butanol and butyric acid as a potential substitute for traditional fuels has grown. Microbiological production of butanol and butyric acid from carbohydrates is not economically advantageous due to several process defects. The cost reduction potential of the product is related to expanding the substrates used and optimizing the process’ economics. The metabolism of the strains Clostridia is in two stages - acidic and solvatogenic. In the beginning, carboxylic acids are formed, and afterward, these acids induce the preparation of solvents. The aim of this work is to study the effect of unusual substrate on butyric acid production by Clostridium beijerinckii 4A1. The experiments performed were based on a Reinforced Clostridial medium, using different concentrations of lactic acid as carbon source, at Т= 37 °C, and anaerobic conditions.