Optimization and Characterization of Biocellulose Production from Bacteria Isolated from Passion Fruits

Abstract

Biocellulose is a strong polymer consisting of nanofibrillar structures that produce a large surface area and a microporous structure. This organic polymer is greatly in demand in various industries, such as the paper industry, biomedical industry and cosmetics industry.  In this study, biocellulose production from two bacteria known as endophytic bacterium SV845 (M02) and Pantoea ananatis IADCAMBID (M03) isolated from passion fruit was selected. Three different media formulations (Media 1, Media 2, and Media 3) were used in order to optimize the biocellulose production where each media contained a different percentage of carbon sources (glucose and fructose). The highest biocellulose production (1.544 mg/mL) was demonstrated by M02 bacteria strain in Media 1 containing glucose alone which fermented at 30 ºC while at 37 ºC, the highest biocellulose (BC) production was demonstrated by M03 bacteria strain at 2.078 mg/mL in media containing glucose alone (Media 1). Data on pH changes during biocellulose fermentation in all the media were set at an initial pH of 6. The final pH values were observed in the range of 5.34 to 6.08 for M02 strain and 5.95 to 8.53 for M03 strain, respectively. Characterizations of biocellulose were compared to starch using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR analysis indicated that the absorption peaks at 3200 cm-1 and 1630 cm-1 were derived from the association of intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds and H–O–H bending vibration of the absorbed water molecules in cellulose.