Acetate production byClostridium thermoaceticum in corn steep liquor media

A low-cost nutrient medium based on corn steep liquor (CSL) was developed for the production of acetates byClostridium thermoaceticum. Pre-treatment of CSL with dolime and vitamin supplementation increased the rate of acetate production. Adding excess nutrients in a fed-batch mode minimized by-product formation and increased final acetate concentration from 19 g L^–1 to 40 g L^–1 acetic acid. High yields of acetic acid (0.95 g g^–1 glucose in fed-batch mode) was probably due to the conversion of the lactic acid in CSL into acetic acid by the organism.