🦠microbiology review

key term - Acetone

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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.

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