Efficiency of bacterial cellulose synthesis and purity: synergistic effects between cultivation and purification

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable materials has driven the study of bacterial cellulose (BC) as a renewable and biodegradable alternative. This work aimed to optimize the cultivation conditions for the production of bacterial cellulose from kombucha (KBC) and to evaluate the impact of purification on its properties. KBC membranes were obtained from green tea over two fermentation periods (7 and 21 days) and purified either by washing with distilled water or by alkaline treatment in a 0.1 M NaOH solution at 80 °C for 1 h. Yield (wet mass and thickness) and structural changes were assessed by FTIR. Longer cultivation times resulted in significantly thicker and heavier membranes. Alkaline purification promoted pH neutralization and the removal of fermentation residues, evidenced by the absence of characteristic bands in the FTIR spectra and greater peak definition, suggesting increased crystallinity. Thus, prolonged cultivation combined with alkaline purification proved to be the most efficient route for obtaining high-quality KBC, supporting applications in sustainable packaging and biomedicine.