PRODUCTION AND PROPERTIES OF 2,3-BUTANEDIOL: XVIII. DISSIMILATION OF GLUCOSE BY SERRATIA MARCESCENS

Abstract

4 strains of S. marcescens were found to dissimilate glucose under anaerobic conditions, producing 2,3-butanediol according to the equation: C6H12O6 [forward arrow] CH3.CHOH.CHOH.CH3 + HCOOH + CO2. Under aerobic conditions little formic acid was produced and the reaction became C6H12O6 + 1/2O2 [forward arrow] CH3.CHOH.CHOH.CH3 + H2O + 2CO2. These reactions accounted for 40-60% of the glucose. The remainder was fermented to lactic acid (5-25%), ethanol (10-20%) and glycerol (1-4%). The lactic acid produced was 95 to 97% of the levo-isomer; the 2,3-butanediol was a meso dextro mixture containing about 2% of the dextro-isomer.