Production and characterization of bacterial cellulose produced by Gluconacetobacter xylinus BNKC 19 using agricultural waste products as nutrient source

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is becoming a promising biopolymeric material due to its potential applications in biomedicine and emerging industrial technologies, among other exciting new uses. In the current work, BC nanofibres were produced by Gluconacetobacter xylinus using alternative sources of nutrients derived from agricultural by-products, pineapple peel and banana extracts, which are cheaper and very abundant. The production yield and thickness of BC produced in a non-conventional culture medium from pineapple peel extract with additional yeast extract and peptone was higher than that produced from Hestrin and Schramm’s medium. Three prominent and characteristic diffraction peaks from X-ray diffraction patterns corresponding to the crystal planes of $(1\overline{1}0),$ (110) and (200) indicate a typical cellulose $\mathrm{I}$ structure. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of BC fabrics also shows evidence of peaks characteristic of cellulose $\mathrm{I}.$ Scanning electron microscopy analysis of BC fabrics reveals ribbon-like microfibrils with widths less than 100 nm in all media. Thermogravimetric analysis shows the degradation of BC with similar characteristics among the samples. Alternative sources of nutrients derived from agricultural by-products found in this work could be utilized as a new culture medium to produce suitable BC for industrial applications and its composites in future work.

Keywords:

• agricultural waste products
• bacterial cellulose
• BNKC19
• Gluconacetobacter xylinus

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Khon Kaen University, for supporting facilities. And, we special thank Asst. Dr. Wichai Soemphol for all advising.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Research and Graduate Studies Office, Khon Kaen University via the Integrated Research Group for Energy and Environment (IRGEE).