A medium supplemented with vegetable extract used for cellulose production of Rhodococcus SP. MI 2 / Meio suplementado com extrato vegetal utilizado na produção de celulose de Rhodococcus SP. MI 2

In this study, the most suitable vegetable extract was screened to use as non-conventional nutrient sources for cellulose production of Rhodococcus sp. MI 2. SH medium or a synthetic medium was used as a conventional or control medium. Cha-poo (Piper sarmentosum Roxb.) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) were 2 out of 14 vegetable extracts chosen as medium supplements. Rhodococcus sp. MI 2 gave the highest cellulose yield in a medium supplemented with Cha-poo extract. The optimum culture conditions in the medium supplemented with Cha-poo extract at room temperature (25o C) under static condition were 5% (v v-1) inoculum size, a 6 -day -incubation period, pH 3, 3% sucrose, and 0.5% (NH4)2SO4. The cellulose yield in the medium supplemented with Cha-poo extract was increased about 3 times (6.83 g L-1 during 6 days) higher than that obtained before optimizing (2.39 g L-1 during 6 days). The medium supplemented with Cha-poo extract cost one quarter (0.5 USD L-1 of medium) of the SH medium (1.9 USD L-1 of medium). The structure of the microfibrils of cellulose produced by Rhodococcus sp. MI 2 in a medium supplemented with Cha-poo extract observed by SEM had larger, less crowded fibrils than those produced in the medium supplemented with sweet potato extract. In addition, the microfibrils of the former had many beehive shaped knots whereas those of the latter had mantle-like surrounding the fibrils.

Neste estudo, o extrato vegetal mais adequado foi triado para uso como fontes não convencionais de nutrientes para produção de celulose de Rhodococcus sp. MI 2. Utilizou-se um meio SH ou meio sintético como meio convencional ou de controle. Cha-poo (Piper sarmentosum Roxb.) e batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) foram 2 dos 14 extratos vegetais escolhidos como suplementos do meio. Rhodococcus sp. MI 2 deu o maior rendimento de celulose em um meio suplementado com extrato de Cha-poo. As condições ótimas de cultivo no meio suplementado com extrato de Cha-poo em temperatura ambiente (25 ºC) em condição estática foram 5% (v v-1) do tamanho do inóculo, um período de 6 dias de incubação, pH 3, 3% de sacarose, e 0,5% (NH4) 2SO4. O rendimento de celulose no meio suplementado com extrato de Cha-poo foi aumentado cerca de 3 vezes (6,83 g L-1 durante 6 dias), maior do que o obtido antes da otimização (2,39 g L-1 durante 6 dias). O meio suplementado com extrato de Cha-poo custou um quarto (0,5 USD L-1 de meio) do meio SH (1,9 USD L-1 de meio). A estrutura das microfibrilas de celulose produzidas por Rhodococcus sp. MI 2 em meio suplementado com extrato de Cha-poo, observado por MEV, apresentou fibrilas maiores e menos congestionadas do que aquelas produzidas no meio suplementado com extrato de batata-doce. Além disso, as microfibrilas do primeiro possuíam muitos nós em forma de colmeia, enquanto os do último tinham um aspecto tipo manto ao redor das fibras.

A new cellulose-producing bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. MI 2: screening and optimization of culture conditions.

A total of 59 bacterial strains were isolated from ripe fruits and vegetables and tested for their ability to produce cellulose. Only one identified as Rhodococcus sp. MI 2 based on its taxonomic characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The glucose was the only product of digestion by cellulase confirmed by TLC and reversed phase HPLC. Rhodococcus sp. MI 2 produced significantly more cellulose with the SH medium containing glucose than with the coconut juice medium. Rhodococcus sp. MI 2 initially produced 3.91 ± 0.091, 2.20 ± 0.090 and 0.19 ± 0.051 g/L/6 days cellulose under static, agitated and stirred conditions, respectively, whereas A. xylinum 998 produced 1.17 ± 0.065, 1.34 ± 0.115 and 0.12 ± 0.046 g/L/6 days cellulose under the same conditions, respectively. The optimum culture conditions for cellulose production in SH medium were room temperature (25 °C), a 5% (v/v) inoculum, peptone 0.7%, yeast extract 0.9%, and sucrose 1.5%, at a pH of 3.5. The cellulose yield was increased by adding 0.5% CaCO(3) to the SH medium with sucrose but added agar had no effect. The cellulose yield under optimum and static conditions was increased about twice, from 3.7 to 7.4 g/L/14 days.