Fermentation of pectin by a newly isolated Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum strain

By enrichment on pectin a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium was isolated. This strain, identified as Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum, was capable of fast growth on pectin (µmax 0.58 h−1) forming acetate, butyrate, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methanol and traces of ethanol. The optimum temperature for growth was 58°C and the optimal pH was 6. The initial breakdown of pectin was catalysed by methylesterase and polygalacturonate hydrolase activity; no polygalacturonate lyase activity was foun