Optimization of bacterial cellulose production using Plackett-Burman and response surface methodology

Abstract

Background: Cellulose is the most widely used natural polymer and can be synthesized by both plants and bacteria. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural biopolymer synthesized by some bacteria, among BC producing bacteria, Komagataeibacter strains have attracted more attention among researchers due to their ability to synthesis BC with high yields. Objective: This study was evaluating the BC production by Komagataeibacter rhaeticus N1 MW32270. Optimization of BC production by statistical optimization method was studied. Methodology: Plackett-Burman (PB) Design was used for screening eight tested parameters, then Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied for optimization the significant factors. Results: PB Design revealed that among the eight tested parameters ethanol concentration and incubation time were the most significant factors affecting BC production. RSM was applied for optimization of BC production. The fitted value of ethanol (1.0152%) and incubation time (10 days) were applied; BC production was compared with the predicted value obtained from the optimization plot. According to the achieved results, the BC production by K. rhaeticus N1 MW32270 was 9.2± 1.1g/l in the optimized medium, which agreed well with the predicted values 9.1 g/l, indicating that the model was fitted. Also BC production by K. rhaeticus N1 MW32270 in optimized medium was then compared with BC production in the standard Hestrin and Schramm (HS) medium. Our results showed that BC production increased by 115% when compared with BC production in the standard HS medium. Conclusion: Enhancement of BC production by K. rhaeticus N1 MW32270 from (4.3± 0.5 g/l) to (9.2± 1.1 g/l) was achieved by using PB and RSM.