Utilization of industrial waste for the sustainable production of bacterial cellulose

The present study reports the higher yields of bacterial cellulose (BC) from Pseudomonas sp. BC6 isolated from the sugarcane rhizosphere. Various types of samples were screened for the isolation of potent BC producing bacteria. Initially six isolates showed the formation of a pellicle in Hestrin-Schramm Broth (HSB); however, one isolate identified as Pseudomonas sp. BC6 produced thick pellicles (more BC) under static conditions in the HSB and formed mucoid colonies on Hestrin-Schramm Agar (HSA). Following the staining with calcofluor, these colonies reflected intense fluorescence under UV light. The isolate yielded more BC in raw carbon (molasses) based HSB (9.3 gL−1) compared to pure carbon (glucose) source (6.9 gL−1). Cellulose membrane made of BC and conjugated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles showed the potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The ability of the isolate to produce BC from renewable sources offers the best, eco-friendly, and sustainable alternative to cellulose of plant origin.