A new method for obtaining bacterial nanocellulose has been developed
Russian scientists have developed a new, cheap way to obtain an important material for industry – bacterial nanocellulose. The research was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RSF). The staff of the Institute of Problems of Chemical and Energy Technologies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPCET SB RAS) spoke about this at the international forum “Biotechnology: state and development prospects. Life Sciences “.
Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a unique material that has several advantages over its plant counterpart (cellulose). In nature, it is formed during the life of several types of bacteria. The fibers of bacterial cellulose are longer, wider and stronger than those of its vegetable counterpart. In this cellulose, in contrast to ordinary cellulose, there are practically no impurities, which, as a rule, negatively affect its strength and absorption properties.
Bacterial nanocellulose can be used in many fields, for example, in medicine to create artificial skin. It plays an active role in stimulating regenerative processes, helping to heal wounds. Already today it is used to create new materials and nanocomposites. Due to its large surface area and porous structure, nanocellulose is also capable of absorbing a large number of various substances, which can be used in medicine to create dressings. The high strength of bacterial nanocellulose allows it to be used as a material for 3D printing some types of human tissue, such as cartilage.
Getting bacterial cellulose is not easy: it requires a glucose-based nutrient medium. However, it is quite expensive to create it.
The team of the laboratory of bioconversion at IPCET SB RAS has developed a new method for obtaining a nutrient medium for the synthesis of bacterial nanocellulose. As a raw material, scientists suggested using oat husks and biomass of industrial cereal – miscanthus, which is much cheaper than a synthetic medium. Scientists use special enzymes (substances that accelerate chemical reactions) to convert raw materials into sugar solutions to produce nanocellulose. Enzymes do not act directly on raw materials, because cellulose in nature forms a monolithic composite with other organic substances (hemicelluloses and lignin). To destroy this composite and make cellulose available for the action of enzymes, scientists used chemical treatment methods: dilute solutions of nitric acid and alkali – sodium hydroxide. Both of these substances in low concentrations destroy the bonds between the main components of the natural composite without affecting the structure of cellulose molecules.
“The main task of our project is the development of engineering aspects of the technology for producing BNC from non-food raw materials. Knowledge of these aspects will make it possible to create a technology for its production with desired properties for specific applications, ”says Ekaterina Kashcheeva, senior researcher at IPCET SB RAS.
In the future, scientists plan to develop the fundamental principles of the technology for obtaining bacterial nanocellulose on non-food nutrient media and provide laboratory technological regulations for the process of its productio
n. Source: indicator.ru