Sabra, WaelWaelSabraQuitmann, HendrichHendrichQuitmannZeng, An-PingAn-PingZengDai, Jian YingJian YingDaiXiu, Zhi-LongZhi-LongXiu2020-03-032020-03-032019-01-01Comprehensive Biotechnology: 147-151 (2019-01-01)http://hdl.handle.net/11420/5142Microbial production of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDL) was once conducted commercially in Europe until it could be made more cheaply from fossil oil sources. Interest in its biotechnological production resurfaced recently due to its diverse potential practical uses and the ever-decreasing availabilities of petroleum oil. Although not yet optimized, its production from renewable waste resources will make the process economically feasible and then offer an attractive alternative for traditional chemical synthesis. This chapter briefly reviews the basic properties and applications of 2,3-BDL. The variety of substrates, strains being used, including genetically improved strains, and their corresponding metabolic pathways are introduced. The current progress in bioprocess engineering, fermentation, and downstream processing is highlighted. Finally, challenges facing the economics of such process are discussed.en2,3-ButanediolApplicationFermentationMetabolic engineeringSeparationBook Part10.1016/B978-0-444-64046-8.00153-1Other