POTENTIAL OF ACETIC-ACID BACTERIA FOR OXIDATION OF LOW-MOLECULAR MONOALCOHOLS

Oxidation of monoalcohols up to C-4 and their isomers to the corresponding acids and ketones was studied using strains of Acetobacter and Gluconobacter. Observed oxidation rates and saturation constants indicated possibility of preparative use of oxidation of alcohols (except methanol and tert-butanol) to the corresponding acids and ketones. Limits of process efficiency are inhibition by product and by substrate. Substrate inhibition can be minimized by using a fed-batch technique where substrate feeding is based on oxygen concentration monitoring. Significant inhibition by product, especially in the case of secondary alcohols oxidation, is discussed as a principal limit of preparative use.