Bacterial nanocellulose: A versatile biopolymer production using a cost-effective wooden disc based rotary reactor

Ashish Jagtap ^1,2, Syed G Dastager ^1,2

⁰NCIM-Resource Center, Biochemical Science Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India.

Biopolymers +

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March 25, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This study improved bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) yield using a novel rotary disc bioreactor with a wooden disc. The optimized bioreactor significantly increased BNC production efficiency and reduced incubation time for industrial applications.

Area Of Science

Biotechnology
Materials Science

Background

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) possesses desirable properties like high mechanical strength and water-holding capacity.
High production cost and low yield hinder widespread industrial adoption of BNC.

Purpose Of The Study

To enhance bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) yield and production efficiency.
To explore the use of a rotary disc bioreactor (RDB) with a wooden disc for BNC production.

Main Methods

Optimized a rotary disc bioreactor (RDB) using Komagataeibacter rhaeticus MCC-0157, focusing on disc material, spacing, and rotation speed.
Utilized Hestrin-Schramm (H-S) medium for BNC cultivation in the RDB.
Compared BNC yield and characteristics from RDB cultivation versus static culture conditions.

Main Results

Achieved a maximum BNC yield of 13.0 g/L dry material in 5 days using the optimized RDB with a wooden disc.
Demonstrated a fivefold increase in BNC yield compared to static culture methods.
Observed slight differences in crystallinity index between RDB-produced BNC (84.44%) and static-produced BNC (89.74%).

Conclusions

The developed RDB with a wooden disc offers a sustainable and efficient method for high-yield BNC production.
This approach significantly reduces production time and cost, paving the way for industrial-scale BNC manufacturing.
The RDB system provides a viable alternative to traditional static culture methods for BNC biosynthesis.

Keywords:

bacterial nanocellulose rotary reactor sustainability wooden disc