Optimization and characterization of bacterial nanocellulose produced by Komagataeibacter rhaeticus K3

In this work, a novel Bacterial NanoCellulose (BNC) producing strain, from Kombucha tea, was isolated and characterized. Based on 16S rRNA analysis the strain was identified as Komagataeibacter rhaeticus. Under static culture, K. rhaeticus K3 produces membranes with a relaxed structure, as observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The addition of 2% (v/v) ethanol to the culture media enhanced by more than 3-fold of the BNC yield. Response surface methodology (RSM) was performed with K. rhaeticus K3, using a new low cost Eucalyptus Biomass Hydrolysate (EBH). The maximum experimental BNC yield was of 5.46 g/L, obtained with the following composition: 31.4 g/L of EBH; 2.89% (v/v) of ethanol and 10.8 g/L of Yeast extract/peptone. Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) of BNC membranes obtained using Hestrin-Schramm culture (HS) medium and optimized medium from EBH showed that membranes from EBH had higher resistance to compression, higher cohesiveness and resilience.