BACTERIAL CELLULOSE .1. FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY ACETOBACTER-XYLINUM

Cellulose production by a strain of Acetobacter xylinum (the nata organism) was affected by the type and concentration of sugar, nitrogen source and pH. Fructose, fructose + sucrose, fructose + lactose and sucrose gave the highest yields (5.25-7.38 g/l). Glucose gave low yields when used alone or in combination with other sugars. The pH of all glucose-containing media decreased from pH 5.0 to approximately 3.0. When fructose alone or in combination with sucrose was used at 1, 5 or 15% concentrations, 5 and 15% total sugar concentrations gave the highest, and similar yields. Organic sources of nitrogen were the most favorable for cellulose biosynthesis. Among the organic sources tested, yeast extract in combination with peptone gave the best product yield. Higher yields of cellulose were obtained at pH 4.5 than at 5.5 and its production was completely inhibited at pH 3.5.