Acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation
Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation is a process that bacteria use to turn food into chemicals like acetone, butanol, and ethanol. Think of the bacteria like little chefs in a kitchen. The food they use is called a substrate, and the chefs use it to make different things.
During ABE fermentation, the bacteria use a substrate (usually corn or other starchy plants) and digest it by breaking it down into smaller pieces. These pieces are then turned into different chemicals by the bacteria. The chemicals that the bacteria make during ABE fermentation include acetone, butanol, and ethanol.
Acetone is a chemical that is often used in nail polish remover. Butanol is a type of alcohol that can be used as fuel for cars, and ethanol is the same type of alcohol that is in beer and wine. So you can think of ABE fermentation as a process that turns food into things we might use every day!
ABE fermentation was a really important process during World War I and II, when it was used to make chemicals for things like explosives and rubber. Nowadays, ABE fermentation is mostly used to make butanol, which can be used as a fuel for cars that is more renewable (meaning we can make more of it without running out) than traditional gasoline.
During ABE fermentation, the bacteria use a substrate (usually corn or other starchy plants) and digest it by breaking it down into smaller pieces. These pieces are then turned into different chemicals by the bacteria. The chemicals that the bacteria make during ABE fermentation include acetone, butanol, and ethanol.
Acetone is a chemical that is often used in nail polish remover. Butanol is a type of alcohol that can be used as fuel for cars, and ethanol is the same type of alcohol that is in beer and wine. So you can think of ABE fermentation as a process that turns food into things we might use every day!
ABE fermentation was a really important process during World War I and II, when it was used to make chemicals for things like explosives and rubber. Nowadays, ABE fermentation is mostly used to make butanol, which can be used as a fuel for cars that is more renewable (meaning we can make more of it without running out) than traditional gasoline.