In situ microplastics immobilization by bacterial cellulose-producing strain, Novacetimonas hansenii PA9

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems.
• Biodegradable materials offer a sustainable solution for environmental remediation.
• Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising biomaterial due to its unique properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a bio-immobilized method for microplastic removal using bacterial cellulose.
• To optimize the production of bacterial cellulose using Novacetimonas hansenii PA9.
• To evaluate the efficiency of BC in immobilizing and recovering polyethylene microplastics.

Main Methods:

• Screening of Novacetimonas hansenii PA9 for nano-scale bacterial cellulose production.
• Optimization of incubation conditions (medium, glucose concentration, temperature, time) for BC yield.
• Static scale-up cultivation of BC in flasks.
• Immobilization of polyethylene microplastics (PE) in the BC matrix.
• Recovery of immobilized PE through enzymatic hydrolysis using cellulase.

Main Results:

• Optimal BC yield of 8.87 µg/L achieved with 2% glucose at 30°C for 7 days.
• BC yield increased by 170.02% through static scale-up cultivation.
• 100% immobilization of PE (125 µm) achieved within 48 hours with 2-10 µg/L PE.
• Over 90% of immobilized PE recovered via enzymatic hydrolysis.

Conclusions:

• Novacetimonas hansenii PA9 is a suitable strain for producing high-purity, crystalline BC with excellent tensile strength.
• The developed bio-immobilization method using BC is effective and eco-friendly for microplastic removal.
• BC shows significant potential as a biodegradable material for addressing microplastic pollution.