Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Acetobacterium for making acetic acid

testimento - 24-9-2013 at 22:35

I just though could it be possible to get the bacteria from the environment or some other source since it's able to churn water-sugar-solution into max. 20% acetic acid. It can get even a lot higher with CaCO3 added, since it reacts with the acetic acid forming calcium acetate.

khlor - 29-1-2014 at 14:10

No, you could get sugar+water and make the fermentative process with common yeast(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and then in presence of oxigen you let this alcholic mixture be oxidated. this will form a biofilm on the top of solution this is your acetobacter(A.K.A mother of vinegar) wait 4-5 weeks and there you have it. vinegar. the longer you let more concentrated you get it. about the CaCO3, this won't help in anything. will just react with the acetic acid forming calcium acetate and CO2, that is useless unless you need this for some experiment. But... you could concentrate the acetic acid from the vinegar by fractional distillation.