A co-culture ofClostridium formicoaceticumandMethanosarcina mazeiconverted lactate to methane and carbon dioxide at mesophilic temperatures and pH values near 7.0. Lactate was first converted to acetate by the homoacetogen, and then to CH4and CO2by the methanogen, with the second reaction as the rate-limiting step. The methane yield was about 1.45 mol/mol lactate. These two organisms formed a mutualistic association and may be useful together with the homolactic bacteriumStretococcus lactisto convert lactose to methane.
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