Optimization of bacterial cellulose production by PTCC 1734 in a low-cost medium using optimal combined design.

This study was aimed to optimize the production of bacterial cellulose (BC) by PTCC 1734 using mixture of date syrup and cheese whey as carbon sources as well as ascorbic acid as a supplementary agent and to characterize the properties of produced BC. The results showed the highest BC production on the 10th day. The 50:50 ratio of date syrup and cheese whey lead to the highest BC production. Three samples were selected in optimal cultivation conditions until the 10th day, with different ascorbic acid concentrations (0, 0.1 and 0.4%). SEM results showed no difference in the morphology of BC product in the optimal samples, where the average diameter of cellulose nanofibers produced was in the range of nanometer. The FTIR test results showed no difference in the chemical structure of cellulose product in different ascorbic acid concentrations. According to XRD and TGA analyses, the highest degree of BC crystallinity and thermal resistance was obtained at maximum ascorbic acid concentration (0.04%). Consequently, the 50:50 ratio of date syrup and cheese whey and 10th day of fermentation time were selected as the best conditions for BC production. Though ascorbic acid reduced production efficiency, it improved the physical properties of the BC product.