Statistical optimization of culture conditions for bacterial cellulose production by Acetobacter xylinum BPR 2001 from maple syrup

Bacterial cellulose production by Acetobacter xylinum BPR 2001 was optimized using maple syrup as a carbon source. Twelve culture parameters were screened by the Plackett–Burman design and significant parameters were optimized by the response surface methodology using a three-level, four-factor Box–Behnken design. For fermentation in a rotary shaker, the optimal conditions for bacterial cellulose production were: maple syrup 30 g carbohydrate/l, (NH4)2SO4 3.3 g/l, KH2PO4 1 g/l, yeast extract 20 g/l, citric acid 1.6 g/l, trisodium citrate dehydrate 2.4 g/l, ethanol 0.5% (v/v), acetic acid 0.5 g/l, MgSO4·7H2O 0.8 g/l, inoculum age 3 days, inoculum volume 6% (v/v), shaking speed 135 rpm, and incubation temperature 25 °C. Comparison of bacterial cellulose production with maple syrup or pure sugars showed maple syrup was a suitable carbon source. This was the first demonstration of conversion of maple syrup, a plentiful renewable resource, into bacterial cellulose, a nanobiomaterial ideal for many applications.