Bacterial cellulose (BC) is the fermentation of low molecular weight sugars using cellulose-producing bacteria, such as the Acetobacter species, to produce nanocellulose. Composed of repeated dimers of d-glucose units cross-linked by β-1,4-bonds. BC is pure cellulose without hemicellulose, pectin, or lignin. Hence, it exhibits high elastic modulus, tensile strength, crystallinity, and biocompatibility. Currently, a large list of bacterial strains capable of producing cellulose is known, but the most studied and commonly applied and used in the industry is the strain of Gluconacetobacter or Komagataeibacter (after reclassification). As reinforcing agents during paper-making, the BC fibers can bridge between fibers and improve the physical properties of papers[1-2].
Bacterial cellulose is a cellulose produced by acetic acid bacteria. It has high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and other properties for use in various industrial fields, including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is noted as a material. Bacterial cellulose is obtained as a bacterial cellulose dispersion in a dispersed state in water by culturing the bacterial cellulose-producing bacteria with aeration.
[1] Xiaoli Liu . “Effect of chitosan grafting oxidized bacterial cellulose on dispersion stability and modulability of biodegradable films.” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 204 (2022): Pages 510-519.
[2] Zhouyang Xiang. “Improved Dispersion of Bacterial Cellulose Fibers for the Reinforcement of Paper Made from Recycled Fibers.” Nanomaterials 9 1 (2019).