PRODUCTION AND PROPERTIES OF 2,3-BUTANEDIOL: XVII. FERMENTATION OF GLUCOSE BY STRAINS OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS

Abstract

Under aerobic conditions both the Marburg and Ford types of Bacillus subtilis dissimilate glucose, giving carbon dioxide, acetoin, and 2,3-butanediol as the main products, and small amounts of glycerol and acetic, formic, lactic, and n-butyric acids. The Ford type cultures dissimilate the sugar more rapidly and also give a small amount of ethanol.Under anaerobic conditions Marburg type cultures will not ferment glucose while the Ford type cultures dissimilate it as rapidly as they do under aerobic conditions. Some strains give 2,3-butanediol, glycerol, and carbon dioxide as the major products while others give chiefly lactic acid. As much as 86% and as little as 8% of the glucose was converted to 2,3-butanediol plus glycerol. The 2,3-butanediol was a mixture of 65% meso- and 35% levo-isomers, while the lactic acid was approximately 90% dextro-isomer in most cases.It is suggested that the Ford type deserves separate species rank.