Optimization of Bacterial Nano-Cellulose Production in Bench-Scale Rotating Biological Contact Bioreactor by Response Surface Methodology

The main challenge in bacterial cellulose nanofibers production is low yield and high cost. The aim of this work is to optimize bacterial nano-cellulose production in the bench-scale Rotating Biofilm Contact (RBC) bioreactor using experimental design. At all of the experiments the Acetobacter Xylinum BPR2001 and culture medium molasses – CSL were used. Three effective factors in the three levels including rotation (10, 13, and 16 rpm), aeration (0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 vvm) and disk distance (1, 1.5, and 2 cm) were optimized by response surface experimental design. The optimum conditions of biocellulose production were rotation rate 13 rpm, aeration 0.5 vvm, and disk distance 1.5 cm. The maximum dry weight of bacterial cellulose production reached 11.65 g/L on the 7th day, Which is one of the highest amounts of bacterial cellulose ever reported. Reduced quadratic models were used to final dry weight and moisture content of bacterial cellulose responses. ANOVA results showed the p-values were less than 0.05 that are significant models.