CULTIVATION OF CELLULOSE-PRODUCING ACETIC ACID BACTERIA IN THE LIQUID CRYSTALLINE NANOSHEET COLLOID OF Na-FLUOROHECTORITE

Abstract

Cellulose-producing acetic acid bacteria was cultivated in a liquid crystalline colloid of fluorohectorite nanosheets and bacterial cellulose/nanosheet composites were produced. In the Schramm/Hestrin-medium which is used for the cultivation, the fluorohectorite nanosheets were stably dispersed and the liquid crystal phase was retained. The liquid crystal phase was retained even after cultivation, allowing us the production of bacteria cellulose/nanosheet composite with the structure originated from the liquid crystal phase of the nanosheet colloid. Obtained samples were gels or viscous sols, depending on the nanosheet concentration.