Effect of drying methods on Acetobacter xylinum bacterial cellulose aerogels and cryogels

Sözcü, Şebnem and Wiener, Jakub and Frajová, Jaroslava and Venkataraman, Mohanapriya and Tomková, Blanka and Kalmár, József and Forgács, Attila and Militký, Jiří (2026) Effect of drying methods on Acetobacter xylinum bacterial cellulose aerogels and cryogels. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 16. ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) pellicles were produced from Acetobacter xylinum using a simple, additive-free, and low-cost static cultivation method consistent with sustainable and green bioprocessing principles. Two post-synthesis drying routes were compared: supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) drying following acetone solvent exchange and direct lyophilization without chemical additives or pre-freezing. The resulting BC aerogels and cryogels were characterized by SEM, confocal microscopy, BET analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, EDS, and geometrical evaluation with a particular emphasis on nanostructure, porosity, and network integrity. scCO2-dried BC aerogels exhibited a well-preserved three-dimensional nanofibrillar network, achieving a BET surface area (123 m2/g), large pore volume (0.36 cm3/g), and an average pore diameter of 10 nm. Confocal microscopy revealed higher surface roughness (Rz up to ~58 μm), reflecting a more developed and heterogeneous surface topography. Lyophilized BC cryogels showed lower surface area (51 m2/g) and pore volume (0.13 cm3/g); however, SEM and confocal analyses indicated that the nanofibrillar network and three-dimensional architecture were largely retained, with only localized fibril aggregation and reduced roughness (~28–30 μm). EDS confirmed high chemical purity in scCO2-dried aerogels, while minor inorganic traces detected in cryogels were attributed to residual components from the tea-based culture medium. Although scCO2 drying provided slightly superior structural preservation and textural properties, the porous architecture remained comparable between the two methods. Overall, additive-free BC pellicles produced by static cultivation and processed via limited pre-freezing followed by lyophilization provided a structurally comparable and more sustainable alternative, offering a practical balance between textural performance and processing simplicity.These findings underscore the potential of simplified drying strategies for the sustainable fabrication of BC based porous materials without compromising structural functionality.

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