Title
Study of specific metabolic pattern of Acetobacter xylinum NUST4.2 and bacterial cellulose production improvement
Authors
BIANJING SUN QIANG ZI CHUNTAO CHEN HENG ZHANG YAN GU GUANGYUN LIANG and DONGPING SUN

Received June 8, 2017
Published Volume 52 Issue 9-10 October-December
Keywords Acetobacter xylinum NUST4.2, gluconic acid, metabolic pattern, bacterial cellulose

Abstract
Gluconic acid, as a by-product of bacterial cellulose (BC) fermentation, can be used as the sole carbon source for BC production by Acetobacter xylinum. In this study, a special metabolic pattern was found in Acetobacter xylinum NUST 4.2. Most of the glucose was converted to gluconic acid by NUST 4.2 in the early stage of fermentation, and then gluconic acid was used to synthesize bacterial cellulose. In order to improve the utilization rate of gluconic acid so as to improve the production of BC, we extended the fermentation period accordingly on the basis of our experience guiding us with regard to the end point of the fermentation. During this period, we paid more attention to the regulation of dissolved oxygen in the fermentation tank because of the low oxygen transfer efficiency of the system caused by a large amount of BC. The production of BC was increased exponentially after the extension of the fermentation period.