Bacterial cellulose production by Gluconacetobacter hansenii in an agitated culture without living non-cellulose producing cells

• Published in: Enzyme and microbial technology 2005-08, Vol.37 (3), p.347-354
• Main Authors: Jung, Jae Yong, Park, Joong Kon, Chang, Ho Nam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacterial cellulose; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cel− mutants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gluconacetobacter; Gluconacetobacter hansenii; Gluconacetobacter hansenii PJK; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microbial engineering. Fermentation and microbial culture technology
• ISSN: 0141-0229; 1879-0909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2005.02.019

Bacterial cellulose (BC) was produced by Gluconacetobacter hansenii PJK in a jar fermenter equipped with a 6 flat-blade turbine impeller and the relationship between the populations of non-cellulose producing cells ( Cel − mutants) and BC production was investigated. The population of Cel − mutants converted from cellulose producing cells ( Cel + cells) decreased as the impeller speed increased. Cel + cells seemed to be protected from the strong shear stress generated by the impeller rotating at a high speed by the BC net produced by the cells. There was an optimum impeller speed in maximizing the population of Cel + cells and BC production. The optimum impeller speed increased with ethanol supplementation to a basal medium. The by-product, water-soluble polysaccharide (WSPS), was a homopolysaccharide of glucuronic acid. WSPS production was related to the population ratio of Cel + cells to the total cells.