Production of antibacterial bacterial cellulose through co-fermentation using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus enhanced rice soaking wastewater

Bacterial cellulose (BC) exhibits a range of exceptional properties, including outstanding purity, superior tensile strength, rapid moisture recovery rate, and excellent biocompatibility, giving it broad application potential. The bioconversion of industrial wastewater into BC is crucial for promoting sustainable economic development. In this study, rice soaking wastewater (RSW) of Chinese rice wine (Huangjiu) was utilized for BC production, leveraging the co-fermentation of Novacetimonas hansenii S-08 and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present in RSW. By using LAB-enhanced RSW from the initial Huangjiu production stage, we produced BC with both enhanced yield and inherent antibacterial properties. Soaking with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RL-7 and Pediococcus pentosaceus RL-10 rapidly established a LAB dominated community, accelerated acid production, and shortened the soaking time. Co-cultivating N. hansenii S-08 with the indigenous strains L. plantarum RL-7 or P. pentosaceus RL-10 at a 1:4 ratio in RSW medium significantly enhanced BC yield. Under optimized conditions (30°C, 4–5 days, 4 % HFCS), this co-fermentation strategy produced dry BC yields of 13.02 ± 0.23 g/L and 14.11 ± 0.27 g/L, respectively, and established a stable microbial consortium dominated by these strains. Co-fermentation not only increased BC production but also modified its physical structure, resulting in finer fibrils and stronger antibacterial activity. BC produced from co-fermentation exhibited strong inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus. These findings provide valuable insights for the resource utilization of wastewater in Huangjiu production enterprise and the development of broad-spectrum antibacterial materials.