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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 May; 41(5): 1214-1218

Fermentative Conversion of Cellulose to Acetic Acid and Cellulolytic Enzyme Production by a Bacterial Mixed Culture Obtained from Sewage Sludge

¹ Division of Biological Sciences, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0R6

ABSTRACT

A simple procedure that uses a cellulose-enriched culture started from sewage sludge was developed for producing cellulolytic enzymes and converting cellulose to acetic acid rather than CH₄ and CO₂. In this procedure, the culture which converts cellulose to CH₄ and CO₂ was mixed with a synthetic medium and cellulose and heated to 80°C for 15 min before incubation. The end products formed were acetic acid, propionic acid, CO₂, and traces of ethanol and H₂. Supernatants from 6- to 10-day-old cultures contained 16 to 36 mM acetic acid. Cellulolytic enzymes in the supernatant were stable at 2°C under aerobic conditions for up to 4 weeks and had the ability to hydrolyze carboxymethyl cellulose, a microcystalline cellulose, cellobiose, xylan, and filter paper to reducing sugars.

Issued as National Research Council of Canada paper no. 19323.