CO Fermentation of Eubacterium limosum KIST612

Eubacterium limosum KIST612 was cultured on phosphate-buffered basal medium (PBBM) with carbon monoxide (CO) as the sole energy and carbon source. The initial growth rate of this strain was approximately 0.17~0.25 $h^-1$/ and the $K_s$ value for dissolved substrate was 0.14 mM. CO was limiting during the growth of the bacterium when the CO partial pressure was less than 0.6 atm (0.5 mM dissolved CO). The bacterial growth rate was reduced in the presence of acetate. When sufficient CO was supplied using a gas-lift reactor, the acetate concentration went up to 90 mM in 116 h. Based on these findings, it is suggested that a pressurized reactor be used to develop a process to convert CO-rich gases into multi-carbon compounds.