A novel kinetic model to describe 1,3‐propanediol production fermentation by Clostridium butyricum

Clostridium butyricum is one of the best 1,3‐propanediol producers due to the nonpathogenic, less byproducts, and energy‐efficient fermentation process. In fermentation process, the relationship among substrate, product, and byproducts is intricate and hard to be analyzed. The present study is aimed at establishing a novel kinetic model not only based on biomass, substrate, and 1,3‐propanediol, but also considering the byproduct concentration to describe 1,3‐propanediol fermentation process by C. butyricum. The simulative result of the model fit well with that in the batch fermentation process. Furthermore, the model was also used to predict the result of fed‐batch fermentation process after some modifications. The predicted result of model fit well with the data in experiment when glycerol was controlled at around 10 g/L. Thus, this novel kinetic model could serve as a tool for further optimization of the fermentation process, and could be improved for some other similar processes.