Enhanced production of bacterial cellulose with a mesh dispenser vessel‑based bioreactor

Joshua Loh, Thora Arnardottir, Katie Gilmour, Meng Zhang, Martyn Dade-Robertson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Bacterial celulose (BC) has gained significant interest for various applications due to its useful properties which include chemical stability and strong physical properties as wel as its biocompatibility. However, conventional fabrication methods are limited by a lack of control over the form, particularly depth and thickness, restricting BC applications to 2D planar shapes. The production of BC is constrained by the formation of a pelicle at the liquid–air interface. To overcome this constraint and enable continuous pelicle formation, a method was established to combine intermittent batch feeding with a supportive mesh scaffold. Intermittent feeding supplies nutrients to the pelicle, promoting sustained formation at the liquid–air interface, while the supporting mesh anchors the initial pelicle to prevent submersion. This approach facilitates the continuous growth of BC pelicle at a controled rate. Moreover, the method described here results in a single BC pelicle with enhanced thickness, weight (both wet and dry states), water-holding capacity and mechanical strength. Continuous growth is achievable with ongoing nutrient supply, alowing for precise control over the final pelicle thickness. This culturing method is scalable and has been tested for volumes ranging from 250 mL to 10 L, and significantly increases glucose-to-celulose conversion (3.4-fold) and water utilization efficiency (2.4-fold).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-18
Number of pages18
JournalCellulose
Early online date29 Jan 2025
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 29 Jan 2025

Keywords

  • bacterial cellulose
  • bioreactor
  • static culture
  • intermittent feeding
  • Komagataeibacter xylinus
  • Engineered living fabricator

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