title: Production of bacterial cellulose membranes in a modified airlift bioreactor by Gluconacetobacter xylinus.
abstract: In this study, a novel bioreactor for producing bacterial cellulose (BC) is proposed. Traditional BC production uses static culture conditions and produces a gelatinous membrane. The potential for using various types of bioreactor, including a stirred tank, conventional airlift, and modified airlift with a rectangular wire-mesh draft tube, in large-scale production has been investigated. The BC obtained from these bioreactors is fibrous or in pellet form. Our proposed airlift bioreactor produces a membrane-type BC from Gluconacetobacter xylinus, the water-holding capacity of which is greater than that of cellulose types produced using static cultivation methods. The Young's modulus of the product can be manipulated by varying the number of net plates in the modified airlift bioreactor. The BC membrane produced using the proposed bioreactor exhibits potential for practical application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Fooyin University, 151 Jinxue Road, Daliao Dist., Kaohsiung City 83102, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: dr009@fy.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Sheng-Chi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Fooyin University, 151 Jinxue Road, Daliao Dist., Kaohsiung City 83102, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Meng-Hsun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D041822:Gluconacetobacter xylinus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Airlift bioreactor; Bacterial cellulose; Bacterial cellulose membrane; Gluconacetobacter xylinus; Water-holding capacity; Young's modulus