Fermentation equations for propionic-acid bacteria and production of assorted oxychemicals from various sugars.

Fermentation (stoichiometric) equations are derived for anaerobic fermentations of propionic-acid bacteria (of both the Propionibacterium and acrylate pathways) and for production of various oxychemicals (butanol, acetone, isopropanol, butanediol, butyrate, acetate, propionate, succinate, lactate, and acrylate) from pentoses, hexoses, and cellobiose. The derivations of the equations are based on the fermentation biochemistries of the various bacterial classes. The validity of the equations is tested using fermentation data from the literature. The equations are shown to be valuable, among other uses, for calculating maximal yields and selectivities of the various fermentation products, as "gateway sensors" for monitoring of the fermentations, and for calculating the extents of the various intracellular reactions of the fermentation biochemistry.