Utilization of lignocellulosic natural fiber (jute) components during a microbial polymer production

Abstract

Lignocellulosic fiber (jute), a low cost natural complex carbon source, was introduced in a fermentation medium to observe the effects of its constituents on the production of a commercially potent bacterial extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesized by Bacillus megaterium RB-05. It has been found that among all the fiber components the bacterium has utilized cellulose most for the EPS production. Maximum polymer yield of 0.297 g g − 1 substrate was found after 72 h fermentation. Consumption of fiber components was typically driven by in situ bacterial enzyme activity as EPS production was found significantly ( p < 0.05 ) accelerated from 36 h onwards with considerable cellulase activity. Utilization of fiber components during different fermentation hours were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, tensile property, and contact angle measurement.