Environmental concerns have intensified the search for biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics. Among emerging biobased materials, nanocellulose stands out for its renewable origin, biocompatibility and wide applicability in packaging, biomedical and functional materials. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), unlike plant-derived cellulose nanocrystals or fibrils, is synthesized through microbial fermentation of sugars, producing a highly pure and crystalline nanomaterial. In this study, we present an integrated bioprocess to produce BNC from agricultural and forestry lignocellulosic residues. Biomass was pretreated via a mild oxidative organosolv (OxiOrganosolv) process, able to generate cellulose-rich solids with reduced inhibition factors. These solids were enzymatically saccharified to release fermentable sugars that were used as carbon sources for Komagataeibacter strains. We evaluated glucose, xylose as well as hydrolysates from pretreated beechwood and wheat straw for their effect on BNC yield and quality. The production performance of Komagataeibacter xylinus and K. medellinensis was monitored over time in terms of sugar consumption and BNC formation. The resulting bacterial nanocelluloses were characterized to assess compositional, structural and thermal stability as a function of feedstock and bacterial strain. Finally, post-synthesis oxidation with a fungal AA9 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO), combined with physicochemical analysis of the oxidized BNC, revealed increased surface reactivity and expanded the range of potential applications. This work outlines a scalable and sustainable route for producing value-added BNC from low-cost renewable feedstocks, enabling greener functional materials.
Chorozian et al. (Wed,) studied this question.