Production and Characterization of Biodegradable Bacterial Cellulose Membranes

Abstract

This study aims to produce and purify biodegradable bacterial cellulose (BC) in a membrane form. A potent cellulose producer, Acetobacter xylinum ATCC 10245, was cultivated with glucose statically at 30o C for 15 day.Purification was carried out with a treatment of 0.5 M NaOH. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic forced microscopy (AFM) revealed that the fiber diameter was between 50-100 nm. Bacterial cellulose can be converted to dialdehyde cellulose with periodate oxidation for being biodegradable form. Therefore, cellulose films treated with different ratio of periodate/anhydro glucose unit (AGU) (mol/mol), at 50oC, for 24 h in dark media. Degree of periodate oxidation is determined with oxime method related to amount of forming aldehyde group. With increasing of
periodate/AGU ratios, degree of oxidation was also increased. Chemical structure of oxidized bacterial cellulose was examined with FTIR spectrum analysis. New band belonged to aldehyde group was observed at 1720 cm-1. Regarding mechanical test results, it was found that the oxidation was caused the decrease in the mechanical properties of BC.