The influences of pH control strategies on the distribution of 1,3-propanediols and 2,3-butanediols production by an isolated indigenous Klebsiella sp. Ana-WS5

Genetically Engineered Strains: Application and Advances for 1,3-Propanediol Production from Glycerol

1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PD) is one of the most important chemicals widely used as monomers for synthesis of some commercially valuable products, including cosmetics, foods, lubricants and medicines. Although 1,3-PD can be synthesized both chemically and biosynthetically, the latter offers more merits over chemical approach as it is economically viable, environmentally friendly and easy to carry out. The biosynthesis of 1,3-PD can be done by transforming glycerol or other similar substrates using some bacteria, such as Clostridium butyricum and Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, these natural microorganisms pose some bottlenecks like low productivity and metabolite inhibition. To overcome these problems, recent research efforts have been focused more on the development of new strains by modifying the genome through different techniques, such as mutagenesis and genetic engineering. Genetically engineered strains obtained by various strategies cannot only gain higher yield than wild types, but also overcome some of the barriers in production by the latter. This review paper presents an overview on the recent advances in the technological approaches to develop genetically engineered microorganisms for efficient biosynthesis of 1,3-PD.

1,3-Propanediol production from glycerol with a novel biocatalyst Shimwellia blattae ATCC 33430: Operational conditions and kinetics in batch cultivations

Shimwellia blattae ATCC 33430 as biocatalyst in the conversion of 1,3-propanediol from glycerol is herein evaluated. Several operational conditions in batch cultivations, employing pure and raw glycerol as sole carbon source, were studied. Temperature was studied at shaken bottle scale, while pH control strategy, together with the influence of raw glycerol and its impurities during fermentation were studied employing a 2L STBR. Thereafter, fluid dynamic conditions were considered by changing the stirring speed and the gas supply (air or nitrogen) in the same scale-up experiments. The best results were obtained at a temperature of 37°C, an agitation rate of 200rpm, with free pH evolution from 6.9 and subsequent control at 6.5 and no gas supply during the fermentation, employing an initial concentration of 30g/L of raw glycerol. Under these conditions, the biocatalyst is competitive, leading to results in line with other previous works in the literature in batch conditions, reaching a final concentration of 1,3-propanediol of 13.84g/L, with a yield of 0.45g/g and a productivity of 1.19g/(Lh) from raw glycerol.