Cellulose Production by Acetobacter acetigenum and other Acetobacter spp.

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Abstract
The synthesis of cellulose by Acetobacter on media based on blackstrap molasses was studied. Methods are described for the determination of cellulose, and of growth as cell-N, in static culture. Different carbohydrate substrates were compared for cellulose production by Acetobacter acetigenum strain EA-I; hydrolysed molasses was found to give the largest yields. In media based on this substrate growth and cellulose production both reached their maximum values with a sugar concentration of 7.9% (w/v) after 40 days'' growth at 26-29[degree]. The maximum conversion (18%) of sugar to cellulose, however, was obtained with 1.5% (w/v) sugar. Cellulose synthesis ceased when growth stopped, even when the sugar in the medium was not exhausted, indicating that cellulose was synthesized only by the actively growing organism. The cellulose produced/mg. cell-N and % cellulose in the pellicles decreased with increased sugar concentration in the medium. Other Acetobacter strains were examined in this medium; the cellulose yields varied over a wide range equivalent to conversions of 1.9-23.5%.