A continuous process for production of solvents, particularly
acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) using fermentation of solventogenic
microorganisms and gas stripping is provided. The solventogenic
microorganisms are inoculated in a nutrient medium containing assimilable
carbohydrates (substrate) and optional other additives. Control of the
solventogenic microorganism concentration in the fermentor (cell
concentration) and the assimilable carbohydrate concentration in the
fermentor, along with removal of solvents formed results in a continuous
process for production of solvents.