Utilization of D-xylose as carbon source for production of bacterial cellulose

Utilization of D-xylose as carbon source for production of bacterial cellulose was studied. Seventeen strains of acetic acid bacteria were screened for their cellulose productivity in D-glucose, D-xylose, and D-xylose/D-xylulose mixed media, respectively. D-Xylose was not well metabolized by any bacterial strains that exhibited high cellulose production in D-glucose medium. Consequently, bacterial cellulose production in D-xylose medium was unsuccessful. D-Xylose, however, became utilizable substrate for bacterial strains if xylose-isomerase was added to the medium. Acetobacter xylinus IFO 15606 was the best cellulose producer in D-xylose/D-xylulose mixed medium, so cultural conditions were studied for enhanced cellulose production. With pH controlled, the strain could produce cellulose at a yield exceeding 0.3 g per 100 ml of D-xylose/D-xylulose mixed medium, which was comparable to the yields in D-glucose medium by excellent producers in the literature. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.