The effect of medium composition on the acetone-butanol fermentation in continuous culture

The effects of growing Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIB 8052 in a chemostat under conditions of glucose, NH(4) (+), PO(4) (3-), Mg(2+), and Fe(2+) limitation were examined. It was noted that limitation of any major nutrient resulted in the same fermentation pattern. Conditions where minor nutrient levels were reduced appeared to stimulate solvent production. Under conditions of Mg(2+) restriction, a productive solventogenic culture was produced, with a yield of total solvents on glucose of 35.5%.