Structural modification of bacterial cellulose fibrils under ultrasonic irradiation.
Ιn the present study we investigated ultrasounds as a pretreatment process for bacterial cellulose (BC) aqueous suspensions. BC suspensions (0.1-1% wt) subjected to an ultrasonic treatment for different time intervals. Untreated BC presented an extensively entangled fibril network. When a sonication time of 1min was applied BC fibrils appeared less bundled and dropped in width from 110nm to 60nm. For a longer treatment (3-5min) the width of the fibrils increased again to 100nm attributed to an entanglement of their structure. The water holding capacity (WHC) and ζ-potnential of the suspensions was proportional to the sonication time. Their viscosity and stability were also affected; an increase could be seen at short treatments, while a decrease was obvious at longer ones. Concluding, a long ultrasonic irradiation led to similar BC characteristics as the untreated, but a short treatment may be a pre-handling method for improving BC properties.
Food Science & Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, IeraOdos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.
Paraskevi
P
Paximada
Food Science & Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, IeraOdos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.
Eleni Alkmini
EA
Dimitrakopoulou
Food Science & Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, IeraOdos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.
Erminda
E
Tsouko
Food Science & Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, IeraOdos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.
Apostolos A
AA
Koutinas
Laboratory of Cell Biology, Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece.
C
C
Fasseas
Food Science & Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, IeraOdos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: imandala@aua.gr.
Ioanna G
IG
Mandala
D016947:Acetobacteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D012212:Rheology; D013010:Sonication; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D014867:Water; D002482:Cellulose
Bacterial; Cellulose; Fibrils; Rheology; Suspension; Ultrasounds