Acetone

Definition

Acetone is a volatile, flammable organic solvent with the chemical formula C3H6O. It is commonly produced by microbial fermentation and used in various industrial applications.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Acetone is produced by certain bacteria during the fermentation process, often in combination with butanol and ethanol.
2. It plays a role in the acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation pathway, which is utilized by Clostridium species.
3. The presence of acetone can indicate specific metabolic pathways are active within microbial cells.
4. Acetone production can be influenced by factors such as pH, temperature, and nutrient availability in the fermentation medium.
5. It can serve as a precursor for biosynthesis of other compounds or be used directly as an industrial solvent.

Review Questions

• Which microbial species are known to produce acetone during fermentation?
• What are the key environmental factors that affect acetone production in microbial metabolism?
• How does acetone production relate to the overall metabolic pathways in microbes?

Related terms

Fermentation:

A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohols under anaerobic conditions.

Clostridium:

A genus of Gram-positive bacteria known for their ability to produce solvents like acetone through fermentation.

ABE Fermentation: A type of fermentation carried out by certain bacteria that produces acetone, butanol, and ethanol.