Comprehensive evaluation for the one-pot biosynthesis of butyl-acetate
by using microbial mono and co-cultures
Abstract
Butyl acetate has shown wide attention in food, cosmetics, medicine and
biofuel sectors. These short chain fatty acid esters can be produced by
either chemical or biological synthetic process with corresponding
alcohols and acids. Currently, biosynthesis of short chain fatty acid
esters, such as butyl butyrate through microbial fermentation systems
has been achieved; however, few studies regarding biosynthesis of butyl
acetate were reported. In this study, three proof-of-principle
strategies for the one-pot butyl acetate production from glucose by
microbial fermentation was designed and evaluated. (1) 7.3 g/L of butyl
acetate was synthesized by butanol producing Clostridium acetobutylicum
NJ4 with the supplementation of exogenous acetic acid; (2) With the
addition of butanol, 5.76 g/L of butyl acetate can be synthesized by
acetate producing Actinobacillus succinogenes130z (ΔpflA) with the
supplementation of exogenous butanol; (3) Microbial co-culture of C.
acetobutylicum NJ4 and A. succinogenes130z (ΔpflA) can directly produce
2.2 g/L of butyl acetate from glucose, representing the first study in
terms of butyl acetate production by using microbial co-culture system.
Through the immobilization of A. succinogenes130z (ΔpflA), butyl acetate
production was further improved to 2.86 g/L. These strategies may be
extended to the biosynthesis of a wide range of esters, especially to
some longer chain ones.