Fossil fuels are a leading source of energy and the demand for it continues to increase. However, the increase in demand has resulted in an increase in cost. These consequences have resulted in search for alternative energy sources, such as butanol produced from biological sources through fermentation. Butanol is an ideal fossil fuel alternative because of its direct compatibility with gasoline engines. Bacteria, such as Clostridium beijerinckii, are known to produce butanol as well as other volatile organics such as ethanol and acetone. In total, 92 C. beijerinckii isolates from fecal samples have been collected from 3 horse farms. From the 92 isolates, molecular analysis yielded 5 isolates with the necessary biochemical pathways for the production of butanol. To quantitatively determine butanol production in the 5 isolates, a positive control (C. beijerinckii) and negative control (C. perfringens) were grown under controlled conditions and subjected to GC-FID analysis. Butanol was detected at quantifiable levels exclusively in the positive control. Future work will include the development of a calibration curve, LOD and LOQ limits, and the screening of the 5 isolates to determine the ideal butanol producer.

Determination of acetone, butanol and ethanol fermentation products in Clostridium beijerinckii by GC-FID

251st National Meeting (2016)

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