Kinetics observations of bacterial cellulose thickness formation using image processing approach during the fermentation process

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose is an exopolysaccharide that has a higher level of purity compared to cellulose from plants. Bacterial Cellulose (BC) is widely used for various uses so that it requires certain initial conditions, one of which is thickness. During the fermentation process, cellulose will be secreted into the medium to form BC sheets and visually visible over the time period. The aim of this research was to study the relationship between variables that influence during the fermentation and to fit the kinetic model of the BC thickness formation using image processing approach during the fermentation process. A USB camera was placed in front of the fermenter to capture the formation of BC thickness. Python programming language was used to process the image and calculated the thickness of the BC sheet from the beginning to the end of the fermentation process. Several supporting parameters were observed by placing the turbidity, pH, and medium temperature sensors. Observations were made in real time with a range of data collection every 15 mins during fermentation. The highest correlation value was obtained from the relationship between time and thickness. The fermentation process is divided into 2 clusters, a change in cluster occurs at the 61st hour. The model that describes the relationship between time and thickness was the Gompertz model.