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Semi-continuous bacterial cellulose production in a rotating disk bioreactor and its materials properties analysis

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Abstract

A rotating disk bioreactor with plastic composite support (PCS) as the solid support was evaluated for bacterial cellulose (BCel) production. Results demonstrated that BCel can be produced in a semi-continuous manner. The BCel productivity reached around 0.24 g/L/day and can be sustained for at least five consecutive runs. Scanning electron microscopy results confirmed that Gluconacetobacter can attach on the PCS surface, which eliminates the need of reinoculation. X-ray diffraction patterns and mechanical analysis of BCel produced from this semi-continuous process exhibited lower crystallinity (66.9 %) and mechanical property (Young's modulus of 372.5 MPa) when compared with the BCel obtained from static culture (crystallinity = 88.7 %, Young's modulus of 3,955.6 MPa). Both BCel samples possessed similar water content (98.66 vs. 99.04 %) and thermostability (around 346 °C). In conclusion, the PCS rotating disk bioreactor system can be used to produce BCel in pellicle form with enhanced productivity and, meanwhile, can be scaled up easily to meet commercial need.

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Abbreviations

BCel:

Bacterial cellulose

PCS:

Plastic composite support

PCS-RDB:

PCS rotating disk bioreactor

SS-RDB:

Stainless steel rotating disk bioreactor

SC:

Static culture

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

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Acknowledgments

This work was sponsored in part by “Aim for the Top University Plan” of National Taiwan University and the National Science Council, Taiwan, under Contract No. 〈100-2313-B-002-057-MY2〉 and 〈102-2221-E-002-035-MY2〉. The authors are very grateful to Joint Center for Instruments and Researches, College of Bioresources and Agriculture at National Taiwan University, and Prof. An-I Yeh from Graduate Institute of Food Science Technology at National Taiwan University for his assistance with SEM, XRD measure and mechanical property analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, 1, Sec 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 10617, Taiwan

    Shin-Ping Lin & Kuan-Chen Cheng

  2. Graduate Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, 1, Sec 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 10617, Taiwan

    Shu-Chen Hsieh, Kuan-I Chen & Kuan-Chen Cheng

  3. Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Ali Demirci

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  1. Shin-Ping Lin
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Correspondence to Kuan-Chen Cheng.

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Lin, SP., Hsieh, SC., Chen, KI. et al. Semi-continuous bacterial cellulose production in a rotating disk bioreactor and its materials properties analysis. Cellulose 21, 835–844 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-0136-8

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