Carbon Dioxide Utilization in the Synthesis of Acetic and Butyric Acids by Butyribacterium Rettgeri

Abstract

To investigate the possible conversion of CO2 into fatty acids, B. rettgeri was allowed to grow in a medium containing lactate and CO2 labeled with C14. Of the C14 lost by the CO2 during fermentation, a considerable proportion was recovered as fatty acids. C14 appeared in both carboxyl and methyl groups of acetic acid and in the various groups of butyric acid though in different proportions. From data obtained in these expts. the fermentation of lactate by B. rettgeri is fitted into a simple reaction scheme.