Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing specially prepared bacteria of the genus Clostridium for producing solvents, enzymes, antibiotics, toxic proteins, or spores. Cell elongation to a critical length of at least about 3x is induced in an economical, abundantly available growth medium by serial subculturing under controlled conditions to effect synchronization of growth in the number of the cells and their effective mass and to produce a substantially homogeneous cell population. At least about 0.01M of a divalent cation such as calcium is added to the synchronized cells of critical length to stabilize the cells against death, lysis or aggregation. Where bacterial production of solvents is desired, cell division is inhibited by temperature shift or by chemical means when the cells reach a synchronized solventogenic state. Solvents produced by the specially prepared bacteria may be economically and readily recovered by conventional distillation procedures or the like.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of rice wine or vinegar especially to an improved procedure for preparing a vinegar, having the attributes of ancient quality, labor intensive and multi-year jar prepared rice vinegar. A single, autoclave fermenter is used for carrying out process steps including rice washing, soaking, cooking, liquification and saccharification, in order to produce a rice vinegar mash that initially contains a minimum of 30% starch. Ethanol fermentation is also carries out in the same vessel at a relatively high temperature to yield a wine product with an ethanol concentration of at least 18% and an amino acid concentration of at least 1.0%. The relatively high amino acid content of the wine causes the subsequently produced vinegar to be exceptionally smooth and mild. The rice mash is prepared by mixing cooked rice with alpha-amylase, elevating the temperature to liquify the rice, and then raising the temperature to about 121.degree. C.

Abstract: Several mutant Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum strains, ATCC No. 31907, 31908 and 31909, which are elongated and non-dividing produce ethanol.