TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Microorganisms: The culture comprises at least one isolated microorganism selected for its ability to convert hydrogen gas and at least one compound from carbon dioxide gas and carbon monoxide gas to ethanol in aqueous media. The culture is a mixed culture of microorganisms containing multiple isolates of microorganisms isolated from other microorganisms. The microorganism is aerotolerant, and is from the genus Enterococcus.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The microorganism produces at least 10% ethanol in aqueous media. The microorganism ferments cellulose to ethanol, also digests cellulose, and is tolerant to at least 7% ethanol or at least 1% acetic acid (preferably at least 3 vol.% volatile fatty acids) in aqueous media. The ethanol is produced to a molar ratio of ethanol to acetate greater than 0.5 (preferably greater than 2). The composition (C1) produces ethanol at pH less than 5 (preferably less than 4). The partial pressures of hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, and carbon monoxide gas make it thermodynamically feasible to produce ethanol at greater than 7 vol.% in aqueous media. The total pressure of all gases exceeds 1 (preferably 2) atmospheres. The ratio of hydrogen to carbon dioxide in volume is greater than 2:1 or the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in volume is greater than 1:1; or the ratio of hydrogen to carbon dioxide in volume is greater than 3, or the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is greater than 2. The change in free energy ( Delta G) for ethanol production is less than 0; and ( Delta G) for acetate production is greater than the ( Delta G) for ethanol production. In the process (M1): a mixed culture of microorganisms is inoculated to a media with a high concentration of at least one lower alkyl alcohol. The concentration of reactants and products is controlled to make production of the lower alkyl alcohol thermodynamically feasible. Total gas pressure is greater than 1 atmosphere. The microorganisms are enriched by growing them under conditions that favor degradation of the alkyl alcohol, and then conditions are changed to select organisms that can also produce the desired alkyl alcohol. The lower alkyl alcohol is ethanol, propanol or butanol. The method (M1) involves: a stage in which microorganisms are grown in an aqueous media with at least 4% ethanol concentration by volume. In the process (M2): the lower alkyl alcohol is separated from the aqueous media. The aqueous media is maintained above 35 degrees C. The volatile fatty acids or their conjugate bases are also produced and removed from the aqueous media. In the process (M3): the volatile fatty acids comprise acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, or isovaleric acid. A single volatile fatty acid comprises at least one volatile fatty acid in more than 50% in molar proportion. The conditions that favor production of the desired volatile fatty acids include pH of 5-7; a temperature greater than 30 degrees C; and the total gas pressure greater than 1 (preferably greater than 2) atmospheres. The microorganism is a rumen microorganism. The volatile fatty acid is precipitated as a conjugate base by addition of a divalent cation. The volatile fatty acids are present in an amount of greater than 6 wt.% of aqueous media. The volatile fatty acids are produced at a rate greater than 5 mM/l/day. EXAMPLE - No suitable example is given.