Process for the fermentative production of acetone, butanol and ethanol

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
The improved process for the production of butanol, acetone and ethanol, by the fermentation of an asporogenic microorganism capable of producing butanol, acetone and ethanol upon a medium containing assimilable carbohydrate and nutrients which comprises conducting the fermentation in at least two continuous fermentors connected in series at a temperature of about 33.
degree.
to about 38.
degree.
C.
at a pH of about 4.
8 to about 5.
5 to produce maximum growth of the microorganism and organic acids and then subjecting the effluent from the continuous fermentors to batch fermentation at a temperature of about 24.
degree.
C.
to about 30.
degree.
C.
to complete the fermentation.
2.
A process of claim 1 in which the batch fermentation is conducted for up to about 72 hours.
3.
A process of claim 1 in which the asporogenic microorganism has the identifying characteristics of C.
acetobutylicum ATCC 39326.
4.
A process of claim 1 in which the asporogenic microorganism has the identifying characteristics of C.
acetobutylicum ATCC 55025.




Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to fementation.
More particularly, it relates to an improved fermentation process for the production of acetone, butanol and ethanol.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The acetone/butanol/ethanol (ABE) fermentation process has received considerable attention in recent years as a prospective process for the production of commodity chemicals (butanol and acetone) from biomass.
.
sup.
1,2 The ABE fermentation is the most widely studied among the anaerobic fermentation processes and is a model for complex primary metabolism fermentations.
Prior to World War II, butanol was produced primarily by fermentation.
With the advent of cheaper synthetic butanol derived from petroleum feed stocks, the fermentation process became uneconomical.
Butanol production by fermentation continues to attract interest because it is potentially less expensive than production from petroleum and butanol is an industrially useful solvent with potential uses as a chemical feedstock or liquid fuel