Enhanced acetoin production by Serratia marcescens H32 using statistical optimization and a two-stage agitation speed control strategy

Enhanced acetoin production was carried out by Serratia marcescens H32. First, medium compositions were optimized statistically for shake flask fermentations to produce acetoin. Sucrose and corn steep liquor powder (CSLP) were identified as the most significant factors by Plackett-Burman design. The path of steepest ascent and response surface methodology were then employed to determine the optimal concentrations of the two factors. Acetoin yield was up to 41.5 g/L in flask fermentations using the optimized medium. Furthermore, the optimal medium was used to conduct fermentation experiments in a 3.7-L bioreactor. The influences of different agitation speeds on acetoin production were investigated. Based on a process analysis, a two-stage agitation speed control strategy was proposed, in which the agitation speed was controlled at 700 rpm during the first 8 h and then switched to 600 rpm. A relatively high acetoin concentration (44.9 g/L) and high acetoin productivity (1.73 g/L/h) were achieved by applying this strategy. Fed-batch fermentation based on the two-stage agitation speed control strategy was performed, and a maximum acetoin concentration of 60.5 g/L with productivity of 1.44 g/L/h was achieved.