Clostridium acetobutylicum
From Freepedia
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Clostridium acetobutylicum (C. acetobutylicum) is a commercially valuable bacterium, included in the genus Clostridium. It is called the "Weizmann Organism", after Chaim Weizmann (or Charles in the USA), who in 1916 helped discover how C. acetobutylicum culture could be used to produce acetone, butanol and ethanol from starch using the A.B.E. ( Acetone, Butanol,Ethanol) process to enable industrial purposes such as gunpowder and TNT production. The A.B.E. process was an industry standard until the 1950's when low oil costs drove more efficient processes based on hydrocarbon cracking and petroleum distillation techniques. C. acetobutylicum also produces acetic acid (vinegar), butyric acid (a vomitous smelling substance), carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
Anaerobic Fermentation using C. acetobutylicum recently regained marked interest for use in vehicle fuel production as a gasoline and diesel fuel replacement . This is because butanol as produced by a fibrous bed bioreactor utilizing recent biotechnology co-pioneered by Environmental Energy Inc. and The Ohio State University produces the alcohol butanol as its primary output. The patented process using C. Acetobutylicum produces little acetone or ethanol, instead converting the energy input primarily into (much more) efficient butanol outputs. Essentially, the new process obviates the A.B.E. process, making biofuels a reality for the everyday gasoline consumer. C. Acetobutylicum produces cost effective biobutanol that goes in your car today and gets you down the road.
Unlike yeast, which can only digest sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, C. acetobutylicum can digest whey, sugar, starch, lignin, cellulose fiber and other biomass directly into butanol, propionic acid, ether, and glycerin. Apart from the need for temperature control, the ABE synthesis process is relatively simple. The products are formed in layers that are easy to separate.
Biobutanol, as produced by C. Acetobutylicum in the patented process pioneered by Environmental Energy Inc. has significant advantages over other biofuels used to fuel internal combustion based vehicles and other liquid fueled processes.
- Biobutanol has a higher octane fuel value than gasoline with increased low-end torque. A V-8 engine has been tested on a 10,000 mile US tour supporting a US Department of Energy grant in 2005. The very positive results of this biobutanol auto fuel demonstration will be presented to the US Governments National Renewable Energy Laboratory's www.cleanenergyforum.com in San Francisco on November 7th, 2005.
- Biobutanol can be produced for far less than fossil based vehicle fuels.
- Biobutanol dramatically reduces vehicular emissions.
- Biobutanol does not readily adsorb moisture (it is not hygroscopic), so is less affected by changes in the weather, unlike ethanol and biodiesel both of which require (ethanol) or may require (biodiesel) engine and fuel system modifications.
- Biobutanol does not affect materials common to vehicular internal combustion engines.
- Biobutanol can also be used in the industrial paint and solvent industry to replace fossil butanol.
-anon Pete Goolsby, VP Product Development, ChemLac Inc.
