BACTERIAL CELLULOSE .2. OPTIMIZATION OF CELLULOSE PRODUCTION BY ACETOBACTER-XYLINUM THROUGH RESPONSE-SURFACE METHODOLOGY

The optimum fermentation conditions for the batch, non-agitated production of cellulose by a strain of Acetobacter xylinum was determined by means of response surface methodology. A five-level, four-factor central composite design was used to determine the relationship of four factors (fructose and sucrose concentrations, pH and temperature of incubation) to the response, cellulose yield (in g of crude cellulose/l of medium). All four factors affected cellulose yield significantly. Maximum product yield could be obtained by employing the following predicted optimum fermentation conditions: fructose concentration = 24.8 g/l, sucrose concentration = 76.5 g/l, pH = 4.49 and temperature of incubation = 29.3-degrees-C. Upon verification, the predicted cellulose yield (13.24 g/l) was found to be very close to the average experimental yield (12.67 g/l), indicating that the mathematical model obtained was an adequate predictor of cellulose yield. Better yields were obtained in this study than had been obtained by others.