Optimization of Escherichia coli cultures for hydrogen production from crude glycerol

ESTEBAN A. SÁNCHEZ; THOMAS C. WOOD; RAÚL A. COMELLI; ALEJANDRO J. BECCARIA

Buzios

Congreso; VII Workshop on Biocatalysis and Biotransformations y 1º Simposio Latinoamericano de Biocatálisis y Biotransformaciones; 2014

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológio (CNPq)

Hydrogen (H2) utilization as clean energy vector attracts attention because of the possibility of improve the current energy prospect, while reducing the environmental problems related to emissions of greenhouse gases coming from the use of nonrenewable fossil fuels [1]. Many organisms can produce H2 from carbohydrates. Some enterobacteria have efficient levels of H2 production from glycerol. Because glycerol is obtained as by-product of biodiesel synthesis, and is a renewable and economical raw material [2], it can be used directly to formulate culture medium for the development of H2-producing strains. Escherichia coli is the model bacterial specie employed in biotechnology. While it can metabolize glycerol anaerobically, the H2 production is reduced. Hence, application of metabolic engineering and development of multiples and different culture strategies will increase the glycerol consumption and improve the H2 production. The aim of this study was characterize kinetics and stoichiometry a mutant strain of E. coli, which is promising for fermentative H2 production, evaluating the implementation of an optimized culture medium with crude glycerol added.