Cited by 190Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas ProductionBiofuel production and bioconversionMicrobial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

Alcohol production through volatile fatty acids reduction with hydrogen as electron donor by mixed cultures

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Steinbusch, Kirsten J.J., Hamelers, Hubertus V.M., Buisman, Cees J.N.·2008·Water Research

Abstract

In this research we demonstrated a new method to produce alcohols. It was experimentally feasible to produce ethanol, propanol and butanol from solely volatile fatty acids (VFAs) with hydrogen as electron donor. In batch tests, VFAs such as acetic, propionic and butyric acids were reduced by mixed microbial cultures with a headspace of 1.5 bar of hydrogen. Observed alcohol concentrations were 3.69+/-0.25 mM of ethanol, 8.08+/-0.85 mM of propanol and 3.66+/-0.05 mM of n-butanol. The conversion efficiency based on the electron balance was 55.1+/-5.6% with acetate as substrate, 50.3+/-4.7% with propionate and 46.7+/-2.2% with n-butyrate. Methane was the most predominant by-product in each batch experiment, 33.6+/-9.6% of VFA and hydrogen was converted to methane with acetate as substrate; which was 27.1+/-7.1% with propionate and 36.6+/-2.2% with n-butyrate. This VFAs reducing renewable fuel production process does not require carbohydrates like fermentable sugars, but uses biomass with high water content or low sugar content that is unsuitable as feedstock for current fermentation processes. This so-called low-grade biomass is abundantly present in many agricultural areas and is economically very attractive feedstock for the production of biofuels.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.watres.2008.05.032

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Authors
Steinbusch, K. J. J., Hamelers, H. V. M., & Buisman, C. J. N.
Affiliations
Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Corresponding author
Hamelers, Hubertus V.M.
Venue
Water Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-09
Volume
42
Issue
15
Pages
4059-4066
ISSN
0043-1354 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2100910348
Cited by
190
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 3
FWCI
14.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Water Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Ministerie van Economische Zaken
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
Keywords
alcohol production, volatile fatty acids, hydrogen as electron donor, mixed culture, ethanol, propanol, n-butanol, acetate, propionate, n-butyric acid, biofuel production
MeSH terms
Acetates, Ethanol, 1-Propanol, Alcohols, Butanols, Butyrates, Energy-Generating Resources, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Hydrogen, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Methane, Propionates, Sewage

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