Sustainable Approach for Green Synthesis of Bacterial Cellulose from Acetobacter Xylinum Ncim 2526

Bacterial cellulose (BC), a versatile biopolymer produced by Acetobacter xylinum NCIM 2526, was synthesized and systematically characterized to evaluate its morphological and water-holding properties. Cultivation was carried out in Hestrin–Schramm medium using both shaking and static conditions to optimize yield and structural characteristics. Sub-culturing resulted in pellicle formation (4–6 mm), which was further developed into larger pellicles (12–20 mm) and membranes with a thickness of 1.5 mm. Post-synthesis purification was achieved using 0.1 N NaOH, followed by sequential hot and cold washing and drying. Morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed ribbon-like microfibrils with an average diameter of 4.7 µm in pellicles, arranged in a three-dimensional network. Membranes displayed a highly interconnected porous microstructure with uniform pore distribution across the cross-section, enabling superior mechanical stability. This unique nanofibrillar arrangement directly influenced the water-holding capacity, as the porous and interlinked microfibrils facilitated high moisture absorption and retention. Results demonstrate that bacterial cellulose produced under optimized conditions exhibits exceptional morphological uniformity and water-holding potential, indicating its suitability for applications in biomedical scaffolds, wound dressings, filtration systems, and food packaging.