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. 1990 Sep;56(9):2771–2776. doi: 10.1128/aem.56.9.2771-2776.1990

Enhanced Propionate Formation by Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. freudenreichii in a Three-Electrode Amperometric Culture System

Rainer Emde 1, Bernhard Schink 1,*
PMCID: PMC184841  PMID: 16348285

Abstract

In order to influence the fermentation pattern of Propionibacterium freudenreichii towards enhanced propionate formation, growth and product formation with glucose and lactate as energy sources were studied in a three-electrode poised-potential amperometric culture system. With anthraquinone 2,6-disulfonic acid (E0′ = −184 mV; poised electron potential = −224 mV) or cobalt sepulchrate (E0′ = −350 mV; −390 mV) as mediator and an activated platinum working electrode, reduction of bacterially oxidized mediator occurred fast enough to keep more than 50% of the respective mediator (in minimum 0.4 mM) in the reduced state, up to a current of 2 mA. With glucose as substrate, 90.0 or 97.3% propionate was formed during exponential growth in the presence of 0.5 mM anthraquinone 2,6-disulfonic acid or 0.4 mM cobalt sepulchrate, respectively. Growth yields of 56.3 or 53.8 g of cell material per mol of substrate degraded were calculated, respectively, and the electrons were transferred quantitatively from the working electrode to the bacterial cells. With l-lactate, only 68.6 or 72.9% propionate was formed with the same mediators. The results are discussed with respect to energetics, electron transfer potentials, and potential application of the new technique in technical propionate production.

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Selected References

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