Candida krusei which consumed glucose to produce glycerol and Klebsiella pneumoniae which consumed glycerol to produce 1,3-propanediol were co cultured in a co substrate medium composed of glucose and glycerol to study their ability of convering glucose to 1,3-propanediol. The effect of initial glucose and glycerol concentration on products concentration was investigated firstly. The results showed that higher 1,3-PD concentration was obtained at the initial glucose concentration of 100 g/L and initial glycerol concentration of 80 g/L. The growth curves of individual Candida krusei, Klebsiella pneumoniae and co culture in co substrate medium were compared, and correspondingly the glucose, glycerol, 1,3-PD concentration curves were compared. The results showed that the present of glucose in medium would inhibit the growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae, especially in individual culture in co substrate medium, but with the consumption of glucose by Candida krusei the inhibition function was decreasing. Co culture of Candida krusei and Klebsiella pneumoniae converted partial glucose into 1,3-PD, but the yield was lower and the correlation of Candida krusei and Klebsiella pneumoniae deserved advance research.
