Water absorption and maintenance of nanofiber cellulose production by Gluconacetobacter rhaeticus TL-2C

Physiochemical properties of bacterial cellulose producing by Gluconacetobacter rhaeticus TL-2C was investigated for confirming its possibility as wound care dressing material. Scanning electron micrograph showed that the diameter of bacterial cellulose fiber was 40 to 50 nm. Solid state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data showed that the bacterial cellulose had amorphous peak of C-4 and C-6 and the crystallinity index of bacterial cellulose was 75.4. Water absorption ability of bacterial cellulose was 19-fold higher than α-cellulose. Bacterial cellulose had 2-fold higher water maintenance ability than α-cellulose. Key words : Bacterial cellulose, Gluconacetobacter rhaeticus, nanofiber, water absorption.