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Keywords

Cellulose, Ocean Water, Sustainability assessments, Biomanufacturing

Abstract

Cellulose is a versatile and abundant material traditionally sourced from cotton plants [1][2]. The methods for optimal extraction led to significant freshwater consumption and the use of synthetic chemicals [3]. To address these issues, alternative sources of cellulose production are being explored [4]. Our research aims to develop a sustainable alternative to produce cellulose by harnessing the power of common microbes and using abundant ocean water sources. The study delves into the potential of ocean water for bacterial cellulose production, specifically addressing its influence on production using the native cellulose producer microorganism, Komagataeibacter xylinus DSM 2325.

We have successfully achieved this major milestone by growing it by 50% solution of ocean water with promising results of producing 1.1 g/l of bacterial cellulose under optimized laboratory conditions. The environmental impact assessment highlights that by using ocean water there is an ~60% and ~70% reduction in consumption of land and water respectively when compared to the traditional methods. The techno-economic analysis indicates that  ellulose produced from ocean water offers significant implications for the industry, necessitating a reassessment of current practices and embracing ocean water as a critical driver of sustainability and economic viability in cellulose biomanufacturing.

Acknowledgement

This project was funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation within the framework Fermentation-based BioManufacturing (FBM) Initiative, grant number NNF17SA0031362.

References

  • Hon, D.N.S. (1994). "Cellulose: a random walk along its historical path." Cellulose, 1(1-25).
  • Felgueiras, C., Azoia, N. G., Gonçalves, C., Gama, M., & Dourado, F. (2021). "Trends on the Cellulose-Based Textiles: Raw Materials and Technologies." Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9(1), 608826.
  • Zhang, Z., Huang, J., Yao, Y., et al. (2023). "Environmental impacts of cotton and opportunities for improvement." Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 4(703-715).
  • Faranak Mohammadkazemi, Mehrdad Azin, Alireza Ashori (2015). "Production of bacterial cellulose using different carbon sources and culture media." Carbohydrate Polymers, 117, 518-523.