Characterizing Bacterial Cellulose Produced byKomagataeibacter sucrofermentans H-110 on Molasses Medium and Obtaining a Biocomposite Based on It for the Adsorption of Fluoride

Abstract

Currently, there is an increased demand for biodegradable materials in society due to growing environmental problems. Special attention is paid to bacterial cellulose, which, due to its unique properties, has great prospects for obtaining functional materials for a wide range of applications, including adsorbents. In this regard, the aim of this study was to obtain a biocomposite material with adsorption properties in relation to fluoride ions based on bacterial cellulose using a highly productive strain of Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans H-110 on molasses medium. Films of bacterial cellulose were obtained. Their structure and properties were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy, NMR, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray structural analysis. The results show that the fiber thickness of the bacterial cellulose formed by the K. sucrofermentans H-110 strain on molasses medium was 60–90 nm. The degree of crystallinity of bacterial cellulose formed on the medium was higher than on standard Hestrin and Schramm medium and amounted to 83.02%. A new biocomposite material was obtained based on bacterial cellulose chemically immobilized on its surface using atomic-layer deposition of nanosized aluminum oxide films. The composite material has high sorption ability to remove fluoride ions from an aqueous medium. The maximum adsorption capacity of the composite is 80.1 mg/g (F/composite). The obtained composite material has the highest adsorption capacity of fluoride from water in comparison with other sorbents. The results prove the potential of bacterial cellulose-based biocomposites as highly effective sorbents for fluoride.

Polysaccharides as Support for Microbial Biomass-Based Adsorbents with Applications in Removal of Heavy Metals and Dyes

“…It has been used as an appropriate immobilization carrier/polymeric support for different microorganism: yeasts-Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Yarrowialipolytica [41], bacteria-Lactobacillus spp. [42], Pseudomonas stutzeri [43], and Corynebacterium glutamicum [44], but also as an individual biosorbent for fluoride [45] or other metals. Recently, Komagataeibacterxylinus X-2 was immobilized in bacterial cellulose and proved improved mechanical properties (the bacterial cells act as consolidation points which connect numerous cellulose nanofibers) compared to simple bacterial cellulose films and higher adsorption capacities for Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Cr(VI) due to the presence of amide groups in bacteria [46].…”

Kinetic and Thermodynamic Characteristics of Fluoride Ions Adsorption from Solution onto the Aluminum Oxide Nanolayer of a Bacterial Cellulose-Based Composite Material

“…A large group of bacteria are able to synthesize cellulose. Among the known strains that we obtained for this study is Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans B-11267 [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Therefore, the aim of this work was to obtain a more efficient bio-based adsorbent to fluoride ions. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is currently considered a functional biomaterial with numerous applications in various fields, including biomedicine for tissue engineering [ 21 , 22 , 23 ], wound dressing [ 17 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ], and controlled drug delivery systems [ 23 ]. BC can be used in dietetics as a carrier of additives for balanced nutrition and in industrial electronics for the manufacture of acoustic diaphragms.…”

“…The greatest advantage of modifying adsorbents with nanocellulose or nanocellulose-based adsorbents is the number of functional groups they provide due to the high surface area and functional group density. The numerous hydroxyl groups (or others, if chemically modified) on the nanocellulose result in a higher capacity of the target molecule to attach to the adsorbent [ 24 ]. Unlike other inorganic adsorbents, nanocellulose-based materials are also totally biodegradable, enabling both sustainability and biological use without side effects.…”

“…Herein, we report the synthesis a 50 nm thick nanofilm of aluminum oxide [ 24 ], deposited on the surface of bacterial cellulose by means of ALD technology as a sorbent. The synthesized sorbent was then used as an adsorbent for removal of fluoride from water.…”