Enhanced production of bacterial cellulose by co-culturing <i>Komagataeibacter xylinus</i> and <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i>

This study optimized the conditions of producing bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane by co-culture with <i>Komagataeibacter xylinus</i> (<i>K. xylinus</i>) and <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> (<i>L. plantarum</i>) to increase the production of BC. The yield and thickness of BC were used as indexes. The co-culture proportion of <i>K. xylinus</i> and <i>L. plantarum</i>, carbon source, pH value and the amount of ethanol addition were optimized in the same culture time. The results showed that the yield of BC was 6 times higher than that of the control group when the ratio of <i>K. xylinus</i> and <i>L. plantarum</i> in 6% of inoculations was 7:3, fructose was used as carbon source, the initial pH was 5, and the volume fraction of ethanol was 1.5%. Thus, co-culturing <i>K. xylinus</i> and <i>L. plantarum</i> is effective for shortening the fermentation cycle and reduce the cost of BC.