Development of Clostridium carboxidivorans as a Platform for Butanol Production via Co-fermentation of Lignocellulosic Biomass-Phase 1

2020 USDA-NIFA Center Award

 

Principal Investigators and affiliations:

PI:  Dr. Hasan Atiyeh, Oklahoma State University

Co-PI: Dr. Thaddeus Ezeji , Ohio State University

Funded: $146,360

Start Date: 12/01/2020

End Date: 11/30/2021

 

Project Goal

To develop efficient and economically viable biorefinery  operation to produce biobased building blocks for  energy production technologies that promote national security, environmental sustainability of agricultural production and economic diversification in rural areas of the U.S.

 

Objectives

(1) Substrate formulation and process development to optimize co-fermentation of SH and CO2 using Clostridium carboxidivorans (Cc) SDR-COAT strain and lignocellulose derived microbial inhibitory compounds (LDMICs) tolerant Clostridium beijerinckii.

(2) Develop Cc with enhanced tolerance to LDMICs and acetic and butyric acid re-assimilating capacity.
 

Expected Project Outcomes

Successful completion of Phase 1 using the proposed novel process will produce about 31% more butanol than traditional ABE fermentations.