Experimental Design to Improve Cell Growth and Ethanol Production in Syngas Fermentation by Clostridium carboxidivorans

Fermentation of gases from biomass gasification, named syngas, is an important alternative process to obtain biofuels. Sequential experimental designs were used to increase cell growth and ethanol production during syngas fermentation by Clostridium carboxidivorans. Based on ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) 2713 medium composition, it was possible to propose a best medium composition for cell growth, herein called TYA (Tryptone-Yeast extract-Arginine) medium and another one for ethanol production herein called TPYGarg (Tryptone-Peptone-Yeast extract-Glucose-Arginine) medium. In comparison to ATCC® 2713 medium, TYA increased cell growth by 77%, reducing 47% in cost and TPYGarg increased ethanol production more than four-times, and the cost was reduced by 31%. In 72 h of syngas fermentation in TPYGarg medium, 1.75-g/L of cells, 2.28 g/L of ethanol, and 0.74 g/L of butanol were achieved, increasing productivity for syngas fermentation.