[Formation of so-called byproducts (propanols, butanols et al.) from ethanol by microorganisms].

Abstract

Microbiological literature implies and furnishes evidence that aliphatic alcohols and the corresponding carboxylates as well as acetone can be produced from ethanol during microbial metabolic processes. Propionate/propanol-1 followed by butyrate can be obtained by means of step-by-step reductive carboxylation of acetyl-CoA. Both butyrate/butanol-1 and caproate/hexanol-1 are typical fermentation products of Clostridium kluyvery. In cases where butyrate decomposition is disrupted up to 50% of butyrate is isomerised to isobutyrate. In addition to ethanol, butyrate and butanol-1, isopropanol and acetone are characteristic products of commercially used Clostridia. One would expect that saccharolytic organisms producing ethanol in addition to other "solvents" (butanol-1, acetone, isopropanol) can also synthesise the solvents if the substrate is changed (ethanol instead of carbohydrate). Under carbon monoxide, formiate and hydrogen, some CODH-active Clostridia can, very efficiently, convert various carboxylates into the corresponding alcohols. There are several groups of organisms present in human intestinal tract that can utilise ethanol and other alcohols.