Increased production of bacterial cellulose by Acetobacter sp V6 in synthetic media under shaking culture conditions

Acetobacter strains are bacteria that can synthesize cellulose when grown in a complex medium containing glucose. The effect of the components of a synthetic medium on bacterial cellulose (BC) production by a newly isolated Acetobacter sp. V6 in shaking cultures was investigated. BC production was dependent on the presence of MgSO4 . 7H(2)O and cosubstrates such as ethanol and lactic acid in the medium. The optimal synthetic medium contained 1.5% glucose, 0.2% (NH4)(2)SO4, 0.3% KH2PO4, 0.3% Na2HPO4 . 12H(2)O, 0.08% MgSO4 . 7H(2)O, 0.0005% FeSO4 .7H(2)O, 0.0003% H3BO3, 0.00005% nicotinamide, and 0.6% ethanol. A maximum BC concentration of 4.16 g/l was achieved after 8 days of cultivation at 200 rpm. The production of BC by Acetobacter sp. V6 was higher in synthetic medium than complex medium (Hestrin and Schramm medium) traditionally used for Acetobacter strains. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.