| CPC C12P 7/065 (2013.01) [C12M 21/12 (2013.01); C12M 43/02 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
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1. A method of anaerobically fermenting a syngas to form a liquid product comprising an alcohol or acid, the method comprising:
a. introducing the syngas into a bio-reactor, wherein the syngas comprises carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen,
i. the bio-reactor comprising a fermentation broth therein, the fermentation broth containing at least two types of microorganisms, one type comprising at least one fermenting microorganism species, and the other type comprising at least one competing microorganism species;
b. introducing at least one type of ionophore into the bio-reactor, the ionophore having selectivity for preferentially inhibiting the at least one competing microorganism species from growing and/or producing an undesired product; and
c. allowing the syngas to ferment by exposure to the at least one fermenting microorganism species, to produce the liquid product; wherein:
the fermenting species is Clostridium autoethanogenum; and
the competing species is Acetobacterium woodii.
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