[Acetone-butanol fermentation from the mixture of fructose and glucose]

A mixture of fructose and glucose was developed to simulate the hydrolysate of Jerusalem artichoke tubers, the fructose-based feedstock suitable for butanol production. With the initial pH of 5.5 without regulation during mixed-sugar fermentation, as high as 23.26 g/L sugars were remained unconverted, and butanol production of 5.51 g/L were obtained. Compared with either glucose or fructose fermentation, the early termination of mixed-sugar fermentation might be caused by toxic organic acids and the low pH. When the pH of the fermentation system was controlled at higher levels, it was found that sugars utilization was facilitated, but less butanol was produced due to the over-accumulation of organic acids. On the other hand, when the pH was controlled at lower levels, more sugars were remained unconverted, although butanol production was improved. Based on these experimental results, a stage-wise pH regulation strategy, e.g., controlling the pH of the fermentation system at 5.5 untill the OD620 reached 1.0, and then the pH control was removed, was developed, which significantly improved the fermentation performance of the system, with only 2.05 g/L sugars unconverted and 10.48 g/L butanol produced.