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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Lexington, Kentucky » Forage-animal Production Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #293066
Title: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) fermentation by sequential culture of Clostridium thermocellum and Clostridium beijerinckii: effect of particle size on gas production

Author
item ELIA, NOELIA - University Of Kentucky
item Flythe, Michael
item NOKES, SUE - University Of Kentucky

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology General Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2013
Publication Date: 5/30/2013
Citation: Elia, N.M., Flythe, M.D., Nokes, S.E. 2013. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) fermentation by sequential culture of Clostridium thermocellum and Clostridium beijerinckii: effect of particle size on gas production. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting. 207:2476.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fuel alcohols can be produced by fermenting cellulosic biomass. Clostridium beijerinckii produces both ethanol and butanol, but it is non-cellulolytic. Cellulose requires saccharification prior to fermentation by C. beijerinckii. In contrast, the thermophile, Clostridium thermocellum, is highly cellulolytic. The purpose of this study was to determine if C. thermocellum can be used as a biological pretreatment for switchgrass fermentation by C. beijerinckii. The hypotheses were: 1) C. thermocellum would liberate sugars that could be used by C. beijerinckii, and 2) cellulosis would be surface area-dependent.