Cellulose Production by Acetobacter acetigenum and other Acetobacter spp.

Abstract

The synthesis of cellulose by Acetobacter on media based on blackstrap molasses was studied. Methods are described for the determination of cellulose, and of growth as cell-N, in static culture. Different carbohydrate substrates were compared for cellulose production by Acetobacter acetigenum strain EA-I; hydrolysed molasses was found to give the largest yields. In media based on this substrate growth and cellulose production both reached their maximum values with a sugar concentration of 7.9% (w/v) after 40 days'' growth at 26-29[degree]. The maximum conversion (18%) of sugar to cellulose, however, was obtained with 1.5% (w/v) sugar. Cellulose synthesis ceased when growth stopped, even when the sugar in the medium was not exhausted, indicating that cellulose was synthesized only by the actively growing organism. The cellulose produced/mg. cell-N and % cellulose in the pellicles decreased with increased sugar concentration in the medium. Other Acetobacter strains were examined in this medium; the cellulose yields varied over a wide range equivalent to conversions of 1.9-23.5%.