ScienceAsia 15 (1989): 109-120 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1989.15.109

CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTES 10 ETHANOL AND ACETIC ACID BY CELLULOLYTIC ANAEROBIC BACTERIA

JIRAPORN SUKHUMAVASI,^a KUNIO OHMIYA,^b MALEE SUWANA-ADTH^a AND SHOICHI SHIMIZU^b

ABSTRACT: An anaerobic spore-forming bacterium isolated from compost was the most potent cellulolytic strain among twenty strains screened from various sources in Thailand. It was identified as Clostridium josui FERM P-9684. The optimum temperature and pH for growth were 45^oC and 6.8, respectively. The strain could hydrolyse crystalline cellulose (Avicel), water hyacinth, BMC and rice straw which were mechanically ground without any chemical pre-treatment. Its high hydrolytic capability on tough cellulose contrasted with the almost. negligible hydrolysis by Ruminococcus albus from the cow rumen. The main fermentation. products were ethanol and acetic acid. The yields of ethanol and acetic acid obtained, especially from tough cellulose, were higher than those with Coprococcus species. These results show that Clostridium josui FERM P-9684 may be a promising anaerobe for the conversion of cellulosic materials to useful substances.

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a Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technofugical Research, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
b Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-01, Japan.

Received 19 August 1988