The economic viability of producing acetate from dextrose by Clostridium thermoaceticum is dependent on using low cost nutrients in the medium. Under conditions of nutrient depletion or high dextrose concentration, the cells decreased in numbers, reduced their rate of acetate production, and also produced a by-product (fructose). The best alternate nutrients were defatted soy flour with limited protein hydrolysis, corn steep liquor, and ethanol stillage. They gave comparable results to Bacto yeast extract from Difco but at a substantially low er cost.