Figure 3

The cellulose solubilization in the co-culture and mono-culture experiments. (a) The profiles of cellulose degradation and biomass formations in the co-culture experiment A (with autoclaved iron solution), where figure (a) shows one data set representative of two independent experiments, with both showing comparable results; (b) The profiles of cellulose degradation and biomass formations in the co-culture experiments B (with filter sterilized iron solution), where figure (b) shows one data set representative of two independent experiments, with both showing comparable results. The time profiles of C. cellulolyticum (circle), C. acetobutylicum (square) and cellulose solubilization in terms of total organic carbon in each co-culture (triangle) at initial cellulose concentration of 20 g/L and under pH profile, along with cellulose solubilization in terms of total organic carbon in C. cellulolyticum mono-culture under the same co-culture conditions (rhombus). C. acetobutylicum was inoculated after 2 days; (c) Degradation of cellulose in the co-culture experiments A and B and the mono-culture experiment at optimal pH of 7.2, 5 days after reaching the maximum C. cellulolyticum concentration in the culture (dark grey) and after 28 days (light grey). Error bars are based on two duplicate experiments.