Abstract
Acetobacter aceti IFO 3281, grown on 1% glycerol, was found to have the best conversion potential for ribitol and D-arabitol than other acetic acid bacteria and has broad substrate specificity on various polyols. Strain can convert upto 20% ribitol and 50% D-arabitol to L-ribulose and D-xylulose, respectively without any tendency of by-product formation or substrate/product consumption.