Fermentation & biotechnology
Fermented food is nutritional food that has many benefits for health and has longer shelf-life.
Research publication highlights
Bacterial cellulose production optimization
Process efficiency improvement
The extraordinary nature of the bacterial cellulose (BC) biopolymer gives it potential for diverse applications; however, the low BC yield of many indigenous cellulose-producing bacteria is a persistent problem in its synthesis. In this study, the BC yield of Komactobacter intermedius (BCRC 910677) was optimized by modifying culture media. The optimal culture period, type of carbon, and nitrogen sources were evaluated using the one-factor-at-a-time approach prior to the optimization study. The optimization was done by using the response surface methodology (RSM). The K. intermedius investigated in this study show great potential for commercial BC productions and as feedstock. The RSM can be a promising approach to enhance BC yield since the parameters were well correlated.
Check out the article at Cellulose 27 (2020) 2497–2509
Atmospheric cold plasma technology
Technology in food processing
Toxic compounds in pineapple peel waste hydrolysate (PPWH), namely formic acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and furfural, are the major predicament in its utilization as a carbon source for bacterial cellulose (BC) fermentation. A rapid detoxification procedures using atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) technique were employed to reduce the toxic compounds. ACP treatment allows the breakdown of toxic compounds without causing excessive breakdown of sugars. The results show that ACP treatment provides a novel detoxified strategy in achieving agricultural waste hydrolysate reuse in fermentation. Furthermore, the results also imply that untreated PPWH can be an inexpensive and sustainable resource for fermentation media supplementation.
Check out the article at International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 175 (2021) 526–534
Fermentation product for food packaging
Biodegradable product technology
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a microbial cellulose that presents various characteristics such as high mechanical strength, high water content, and great biocompatibility and biodegradability. Therefore, it provides great potential to be applied in functional packaging applications. Analysis of the produced BC showed that it is a suitable, ecofriendly biomaterial for food packaging, and its further evaluation will be accomplished in future studies.
Check out the article at Fermentation 8 (2022) 608