Production of propionic acid

Having demonstrated that the immobilization of propionibacterial cells is possible in principle, we conducted a series of methodological and physiological investigations designed to optimize the process. 

Sodium lactate, whey lactose, P. technicum. P. shermanii, P. coccoides, 

The observed time courses of changes in RNA-, DNA- and protein content of the immobilized cells (Figs. 6.5, 6.6) suggested the occurrence of the processes of degradation, resynthesis and renovation of cellular polymers (Ikonnikov et al., 1982). After 4 days of incubation the endogenous metabolism was accompanied by a reduction in cellular nucleic acids, which (especially RNA) could have been used for anabolic purposes. 

After reactivation the levels of nucleic acids and proteins were considerably increased, suggesting that constructive processes were intensified. Immobilization increased thermal stability of P. shermanii cells, which retained their capacity for acid formation after heating at 70 C, while free cells completely lost this ftmction upon heating at 62°C (Iordan et ah, 1979b). 

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed that immobilized cells retained their normal appearance immediately after immobilization (Fig. 6.7A) 192 h later cell density in the gel was reduced, but still remained sufficiently high (Fig. 6.7B). The cells retained their structural integrity, although some injured cells were also present (Fig. 6.8). After 20 days of operation with reactivation some swollen cells with rarefied contents appeared in the population, but most cells showed normal morphology and cell structure. 

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Metal-catalysed hydrocarboxylation of olefins (Equation 3) is the poor relative of the more famous hydroformylation. It generally requires forcing reaction conditions and suffers from mediocre activities and selectivities (n/i ratio). Moreover, the same products can be made via hydroformylation and oxidation of the aldehyde product.431 Consequently, there are few industrial applications of hydrocarboxylation e.g. Ni(CO)4-catalysed production of propionic acid by hydrocarboxylation of ethylene.432,433... 

Figure 13.7 Metabolic pathway for production of propionic acid by propi-onibacteria.

Boyaval, P. and Corre, C. 1995. Production of propionic acid. Lait 75, 453-461. 

Bories, A., Himmi, E.H., Jauregui, J.J.A., Pelayo-Ortiz, C. and Gonzales, V.A. 2004. Glycerol Fermentation with Propionibacteria and Optimisation of the Production of Propionic Acid. Sciences des Aliments, 24, 121-135. 

Improvements relating to the production of propionic acid by fermentation Patent number GB390769 (1933)... 

As far as large ale industrial application is concerned, the major Reppepropionic acid from ethylene. This was carried out by a BASF process (plant of about 30000 l/a) under 240 atm at 2 0 C with NKCO) as the catalyst. It also appears that Monsanto has a rhodium-catalyzed process on stream, which operates under milder conditions. 

Tyree, R.W., Clausen, E.C., and Gaddy, J.L. 1991. The production of propionic acid from sugars by fermentation through lactic acid as an intermediate. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 50 157-166. 

Propionibacteria are able to utilize lactate as a substrate much more rapidly than glucose. An alternative production of propionic acid by species of propionibacteria, is achieved from sugars through lactate as an intermediate (Tyree, Clausen, and Gaddy, 1991). Overall production of propionic and acetic acid from glucose by Propionibacterium is given by ... 

A stage in the production of propionic acid, CjHjCOOH, is the acidification of a water solution of the sodium salt according to the reaction... 

CH2 CH.C00H + Br2 = CH2Br.CHBr.COOH The halogen acids add to acrylic acid at the double bond, forming i -substitution-products of propionic acid —... 

Lactate serves as substrate for the production of propionic acid, acetic acid, and CO2 during the ripening of Swiss-type cheeses. 

Propionaldehyde is used in the production of propionic acid, propionic anhydride, and many other compounds. It is formed in the oxidative deterioration of com products, such as corn chips. It occurs in automobile exhaust gases. 

In propionic and methylmalonic aciduria, metronidazole, given orally, inhibits the production of propionic acid by gut bacteria. In isovaleric aciduria and methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency, glycine accompanied by carnitine supplementation inCTeases the elimination of toxic metabolites. In many severe conditions, empiric administration of substances that act as cofactors proves to be helpful, and this treatment option should not be neglected (Table 5.3) [19]. 

E14.4 For the production of propionic acid, one dissolves a sodium salt into a solution of hydrochloric acid according to the reversible and second-order reaction ... 

In Europe, BP s co-production of propionic acid is supplemented by the hydrocarboxylation of ethylene ... 

Liu L, Zhu Y, Li J, Wang M, Lee P, Du GC, et al. Microbial production of propionic acid from propionibacteria current state, challenges and perspectives. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2012 32 374-81. 

Coronado C, BoteUo JE, Herrera F. Study and mathematical modeling of the production of propionic acid by Propionibacterium acidipropionici immobilized in a stirred tank fermentor. Biotechnol Prog 2001 17 669-75. 

Border P, Kierstan M, Plastow G. Production of propionic acid by mixed bacterial fermentation. Biotechnol Lett 1987 9 843-8. 

The most important property of the genus Propionibacterium is the production of propionic acid as a result of the propionic acid fermentation dependent on coenzyme B12. If the dependence on coenzyme Bn is disregarded, some clostridial strains that do not form spores may be erroneously attributed as propionibacteria. For example, Cl botulinum, Cl propionicum and some other species can produce propionic acid, but propionibacteria have the GC-type DNA (65-67 mol% G+C in classical and 53-62 mol% in cutaneous bacteria), while clostridial DNA is of the AT-type (25-30 mol% G+C). 

The discovery by the American scientists was confirmed in our investigations (Vorobjeva, 1958b, 1976) by estimating the carbon balance in the end products of propionic acid fermentation. Reactions leading to the production of propionic acid in propionibacteria can be represented by the following sequence (Delwiche, 1948 Johns, 1951) ... 

Acetic acid, another product of propionic acid fermentation, is formed as a result of the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate ... 

Applications of propionibacterial cultures as an additive to leavening for baking (USA, Russia) and for ensilage (Russia), production of propionic acid as a fungicide (Germany) are on a limited scale. There are good prospects for other manufactures based on propionibacteria, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase production, and desaccharization of egg white. 

Borst-Pauwels GWFH (1981) Ion transport in yeast. Biochim Biophys Acta 650 88-127 Boyaval P and Corre C (1995) Production of propionic acid. Lait 75 453-461 Boyaval P, Corre C and Madec M-N (1994) Propionic acid production in a membrane bioreactor. Enzyme Microb Technol 16 883-886 Boyaval P, Corre C, Dupuis C and Roussel E (1995) Effects of free fatty acids on propionic acid bacteria. Lait 75 17-29... 

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