Clostridium kluyverii, an Organism Concerned in the Formation of Caproic Acid from Ethyl Alcohol

Abstract

9 strains of a new species of anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium, Clostridium kluyverii, have been isolated from fresh water and marine muds. The organism is unique in forming caproic acid from ethyl alcohol, particularly when growing in association with the methane-producing bacterium, Methanobacterium ome-lianskii. Various morphological, physiol. and nutritional characteristics are described.