Patent ID: 9464302
Filing Date: 2016-10-11
CPC Classification: C12N,C12P,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. A method for sustaining a population of microorganisms for the bioconversion of syngas to alcohol contained in an aqueous fermentation broth in the event of a decrease or cessation of syngas feed to the fermentation broth being used for the bioconversion which broth contains said alcohol, said method comprising continuously or intermittently adding during the period of decreased or ceased syngas feed at least one reducible anion selected from the group consisting of nitrate, sulfite, bisulfite, thiosulfate and metabisulfite anion, to the fermentation broth at a rate sufficient to substantially maintain the microorganism population by the bioconversion of alcohol to carboxylate anion and reduction of the at least one reducible anion but below that which would adversely affect the microorganisms.