Glycerol supplementation of the growth medium enhances in situ detoxification of furfural by Clostridium beijerinckii during butanol fermentation

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2014;98(14):6511-21. doi: 10.1007/s00253-014-5802-8. Epub 2014 May 17.

Abstract

Lignocellulose-derived microbial inhibitors such as furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural adversely affect fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates to fuels and chemicals due to their toxicity on fermenting microbes. To harness the potential of lignocellulose as a cheap source of fermentable sugars, in situ detoxification of furfural and other lignocellulose-derived microbial inhibitors is essential. To enhance in situ detoxification and tolerance of furfural by Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 during acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation, the effect of glycerol on NADH/NADPH generation and ABE production by furfural (4, 5, and 6 g/L)-challenged cultures was investigated in this study. In all instances, beneficial outcomes were observed. For example, the fermentation medium supplemented with glycerol and subjected to 5 g/L furfural elicited up to 1.8- and 3-fold increases, respectively, in NADH and NADPH levels in C. beijerinckii 8052 relative to the control culture. These critical changes are the likely underpinnings for the glycerol-mediated 2.3-fold increase in the rate of detoxification of 5 g/L furfural, substrate consumption, and ABE production compared to the unsupplemented medium. Collectively, these results demonstrate that increased intracellular NADH/NADPH in C. beijerinckii 8052 due to glycerol utilization engenders favorable effects on many aspects of cellular metabolism, including enhanced furfural reduction and increased ABE production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetone / metabolism
  • Biotransformation
  • Butanols / metabolism*
  • Clostridium beijerinckii / growth & development
  • Clostridium beijerinckii / metabolism*
  • Culture Media / chemistry*
  • Ethanol / metabolism
  • Fermentation
  • Furaldehyde / metabolism*
  • Glycerol / metabolism*
  • NAD / metabolism
  • NADP / metabolism

Substances

  • Butanols
  • Culture Media
  • NAD
  • Acetone
  • Ethanol
  • NADP
  • Furaldehyde
  • Glycerol