Abstract
The metabolism of pyruvate by hetero-fermenters was found to vary according to experimental conditions; acetic acid formation was increased under aerobic conditions, while anaerobically acetoin formation was accelerated.
When pyruvate was added to the growing culture during the early stage of growth, it was reduced to lactic acid, while acetoin was obtained from pyruvate when it was added during the later stage of the growing culture.
No relationship of acetaldehyde to acetoin formation was ascer-tained, and no evidence was obtained on ethanol formation from pyruvate.
