Caracterización de la celulosa bacteriana producida a través de combinaciones de Komagataeibacter xylinus DSM2004 y los consorcios PDC21 y PDC25

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose is a biopolymer of great commercial interest due to its high purity, high degree of crystallinity and superior mechanical properties compared to cellulose derived from vegetable sources. However, its high production cost has limited its use on an industrial scale. To reduce these costs, it is essential to explore techniques that optimize cellulose biosynthesis, such as the use of co-culture methods that increase the robustness of the production system and enhance the yield through synergistic interactions. In the present study, bacterial cellulose produced by combinations of a standard strain and the microbial consortia PDC21 and PDC25 was characterized, evaluating the production in co-cultures versus monocultures. Cellulose morphology was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), chemical composition by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and crystallinity was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, the resulting fermentation broths were characterized to understand the differences between co-culture and monoculture productions. The co-culture treatments demonstrated higher cellulose yields compared to their monocultures. Although all treatments exhibited similar chemical characteristics, variability was observed in the morphology and crystallinity of the cellulose produced. Significant differences were also identified in the physical and chemical characteristics of the fermentation broths. This study evidenced the potential of bacterial co-cultures to improve cellulose production efficiency.