Efficient 3-hydroxypropionic acid production by Acetobacter sp. CIP 58.66 through a feeding strategy based on pH control

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) can selectively oxidize diols into their corresponding hydroxyacids. Notably, they can convert 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) into 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), which is a promising building-block. Until now, 3-HP production with AAB is carried out in batch and using resting cells at high cell densities (up to 10 g L(−1) of cell dry weight). This approach is likely limited by detrimental accumulation of the intermediate 3-hydroxypropanal (3-HPA). Herein, we investigate an alternative implementation that allows highly efficient 3-HP production with lower cell densities of growing cells and that prevents 3-HPA accumulation. First, growth and 3-HP production of Acetobacter sp. CIP 58.66 were characterized with 1,3-PDO or glycerol as growth substrate. The strain was then implemented in a bioreactor, during a sequential process where it was first cultivated on glycerol, then the precursor 1,3-PDO was continuously supplied at a varying rate, easily controlled by the pH control. Different pH set points were tested (5.0, 4.5, and 4.0). This approach used the natural resistance of acetic acid bacteria to acidic conditions. Surprisingly, when pH was controlled at 5.0, the performances achieved in terms of titer (69.76 g(3-HP) L(−1)), mean productivity (2.80 g(3-HP) L(−1) h(−1)), and molar yield (1.02 mol(3-HP) mol(−1)(1,3-PDO)) were comparable to results obtained with genetically improved strains at neutral pH. The present results were obtained with comparatively lower cell densities (from 0.88 to 2.08 g L(−1)) than previously reported. This feeding strategy could be well-suited for future scale-up, since lower cell densities imply lower process costs and energy needs.