Plate and Disk Bioreactors for Making Bacterial Cellulose

摘要

The product from manufacturing bacterial cellulose can be a tough gel (pellicle), reticulated filaments, or pellets. Inefficient and technologically crude large scale surface culture has been successful in the Republic of the Philippines because of vigorous growth and lowering of pH to discourage potential contaminating organisms. We observe superior performance by supporting the organisms with plates or disks and alternately wetting them with nutrient media and exposing them to air. Power consumption is low, and no expensive system is need for aeration. Reactor configurations suitable for low technology agribusiness have been evaluated.