Process intensification of gas fermentations with Acetobacterium woodii in stirred-tank reactors

Christina Kantzow, doctoral thesis Technische Universität München, 2015

Gas fermentations using acetogenic bacteria to convert carbon dioxide with hydrogen into acetate represent an alternative to the synthesis of acetic acid from fossil resources.  Reaction engineering analysis of gas fermentations with Acetobacterium woodii resulted in high acetate concentrations (60 g/L) in batch operated stirred-tank bioreactors. High space time yields (148 g/L/d) were achieved in continuously operated membrane bioreactors with full cell retention.

Publications

• Kantzow C, Weuster-Botz D (2016): Effects of hydrogen partial pressure on autotrophic growth and product formation of Acetobacterium woodii. Bioproc Biosys Eng 39: 1325–1330.
• Kantzow C, Mayer A, Weuster-Botz D (2015): Continuous gas fermentation by Acetobacterium woodii in a submerged membrane reactor with full cell retention. J Biotechnol 212: 11-18.