Problems with the microbial production of butanol

Zheng, YanN; Li, LZhi; Xian, Mo; Ma, YuJiu; Yang, JM; Xu, Xin; He, DZhi

HERO ID

1463461

Reference Type

Journal Article

Subtype

Review

Year

2009

Language

English

PMID

19562394

HERO ID 1463461
Material Type Review
In Press No
Year 2009
Title Problems with the microbial production of butanol
Authors Zheng, YanN; Li, LZhi; Xian, Mo; Ma, YuJiu; Yang, JM; Xu, Xin; He, DZhi
Journal Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
Volume 36
Issue 9
Page Numbers 1127-1138
Abstract With the incessant fluctuations in oil prices and increasing stress from environmental pollution, renewed attention is being paid to the microbial production of biofuels from renewable sources. As a gasoline substitute, butanol has advantages over traditional fuel ethanol in terms of energy density and hygroscopicity. A variety of cheap substrates have been successfully applied in the production of biobutanol, highlighting the commercial potential of biobutanol development. In this review, in order to better understand the process of acetone-butanol-ethanol production, traditional clostridia fermentation is discussed. Sporulation is probably induced by solvent formation, and the molecular mechanism leading to the initiation of sporulation and solventogenesis is also investigated. Different strategies are employed in the metabolic engineering of clostridia that aim to enhancing solvent production, improve selectivity for butanol production, and increase the tolerance of clostridia to solvents. However, it will be hard to make breakthroughs in the metabolic engineering of clostridia for butanol production without gaining a deeper understanding of the genetic background of clostridia and developing more efficient genetic tools for clostridia. Therefore, increasing attention has been paid to the metabolic engineering of E. coli for butanol production. The importation and expression of a non-clostridial butanol-producing pathway in E. coli is probably the most promising strategy for butanol biosynthesis. Due to the lower butanol titers in the fermentation broth, simultaneous fermentation and product removal techniques have been developed to reduce the cost of butanol recovery. Gas stripping is the best technique for butanol recovery found so far.
Doi 10.1007/s10295-009-0609-9
Pmid 19562394
Wosid WOS:000269193600001
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Source: Web of Science WOS:000269193600001
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Butanol; Fermentation; Metabolic engineering; Clostridia; E. coli; Recovery techniques