STUDIES ON THE MICROORGANISM PRODUCING ISOPROPANOL FROM ACETONE

PART 1 CERTAIN FACTS CONCERNING LACTOBACILLUS BREVIS VAR. HOFUENSIS NOV. VAR.

Abstract

(1) A new bacteria was isolated from acetone-butanol fermentation broth which showed an unanticipated formation of isopropanol. It was identified that this microorganism is a variety of Lactobacillus brevis and was named "Lactobacillus brevis var. hofuensis nov. var."
(2) Lactobacillus brevis var. hofuensis produces isopropanol as the result of the reduction of acetone by its addition to medium.
(3) Cultured with Clostridium acetobutylicum, Lactobacillus brevis var. hofuensis reduces the acetone which is produced by the former organism, and furthermore, Clostridium converts the acids to solvents.
(4) The oxidation-reduction between acetone and isopropanol was demonstrated by the intact cells of Lactobacillus brevis var. hofuensis.
(5) The activity of acetone reduction by Lactobacillus brevis var hofuensis was compared with other microorganisms and the reducing potency was proved.
(6) Specificities of Lactobacillus brevis var. hofuensis for alcohols, polyols and other similar compounds were investigated.
(7) Alcohols, glycols, glycerol, and mannitol, especially secondary alcohols and polyols from C₂ to C₆ were readily oxidized.
(8) Methanol, aromatic alcohols, hydroxy acids and substitutes of alcohols did not undergo reaction.