GPC STUDIES ON BACTERIAL CELLULOSE

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of time duration of bacterial cellulose (BC) biosynthesis as well as the culture medium composition on molecular parameters of the obtained polymer. It was found that the degree of polymerization of BC increases as the duration of biosynthesis is prolonged up to 6 days. A further prolongation of the process to 28 days lowers the degree of polymerization (DP) value and increases polydispersity. An examination of the effect of culture medium composition on the biosynthesis pointed out that the course of the process is mainly influenced by the chemical nature of the carbon source. The best results for molecular parameters were obtained for a medium containing 4% of glucose.