Enhanced production of bacterial cellulose by co-culturing Komagataeibacter xylinus and Lactobacillus plantarum

This study optimized the conditions of producing bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane by co-culture with Komagataeibacter xylinus (K. xylinus) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) to increase the production of BC. The yield and thickness of BC were used as indexes. The co-culture proportion of K. xylinus and L. plantarum, carbon source, pH value and the amount of ethanol addition were optimized in the same culture time. The results showed that the yield of BC was 6 times higher than that of the control group when the ratio of K. xylinus and L. plantarum in 6% of inoculations was 7:3, fructose was used as carbon source, the initial pH was 5, and the volume fraction of ethanol was 1.5%. Thus, co-culturing K. xylinus and L. plantarum is effective for shortening the fermentation cycle and reduce the cost of BC.