Syngas fermentation

Syngas fermentation, also briefly syngas fermentation is a microbiological process in which a synthesis gas of carbon monoxide (CO ), hydrogen ( H2) and carbon dioxide ( CO2) is used as a power source for the fermentation.

Through the metabolic processes of the microorganisms used chemicals can be obtained which can be used as biofuel or as platform chemicals for the chemical industry in this way. The main products of this process include ethanol, butanol, acetic acid, butyric acid and methane.

There are a number of microorganisms which are capable of producing useful chemicals and fuels on the basis of the synthesis gas, particularly Clostridium ljungdahlii, Clostridium autoethanogenum, Eubacterium limosum, Clostridium carboxidivorans, Peptostreptococcus productus and Butyribacterium methylotrophicum.

The benefits of syngas fermentation compared to conventional chemical processes, such as the Fischer- Tropsch synthesis are located in the lower process temperatures and pressures and the utilization of gases with a higher sulfur content and the usability of different ratios of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the synthesis gas, thereby purification steps can be saved as well as the hydrogen enrichment is not necessary. A disadvantage, however, the limitation of the gas addition in the fermentation broth, the low volumetric productivity as well as the inhibition of the organisms by higher product concentrations from ..

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