Biobutanol Production from the fermentation of oil palm frond extract using Clostridium acetobutylicum (ATCC4259)

Abstract

The recent global energy crisis has attracted interest in producing an alternative sustainable fuel from clean, renewable, abundant and yet untapped resource via biological processes. Oil palm frond (OPF) has the potential for Biobutanol production. In this study, batch fermentation tests were carried out in terms of metabolite,cell production and sugar conversion for the production of biobutanol using clostridium acetobutylicum (ATCC4259) with and without organic nitrogen supplement. The kinetic cell growth, solvent and acids production at PH 6.0 were examined.In general,clostridium acetobutylicum (ATCC4259) strain was capable of converting sugar in OPF extract to solvent and acids. The result showed the maximum acetone, butanol and ethanol concentration of 1.94,0.015 and 7.09 g/L respectively at an initial glucose concentration of 50g/L. Furthermore, sugar utilization and growth were the controlling factor for solventgenesis as observed by the dominant production of acid as compared to solvent. These results indicate the OPF extract has potential for biobutanol production.