Molasses-Grown Bacterial Cellulose as a Filter Membrane to Filter Bacteria, Wastewater, and Oil

This study explored the use of molasses (2.5-20%)-an industrial byproduct-as an alternative medium for producing bacterial cellulose (BC), and evaluated its physicochemical properties, mechanical strength, and potential for use as a filter membrane in bacterial filtration, wastewater (pH 2, 4, 7.2, 10, and 12) filtration, and oil permeability applications. The production of BC from molasses resulted in an estimated five-fold reduction in cost compared to BC grown in synthetic media, supporting the principles of a circular economy. The yield, thickness, and porosity of BC produced with 15% molasses were comparable to those of BC grown in synthetic media. The nanofibril structure of BC produced with 10% and 15% molasses was consistent with that of BC grown in synthetic media. The molasses-grown BC demonstrated effective removal of Escherichia coli from suspension and bacteria from wastewater. Additionally, filtration in strongly acidic and alkaline conditions showed no significant loss in performance, with a chemical oxygen demand reduction of up to 63.92%. BC films made from molasses concentrations ranging from 5 to 15% successfully prevented oil permeability, suggesting their potential for oil separation in aqueous environments. These results highlight the viability of molasses-grown BC as a cost-effective, sustainable filter membrane, though further studies are needed to fully explore its diverse applications.