Direct synthesis bio-composite of bacterial cellulose and Arenga pinnata Merr. endosperm polysaccharide using Acetobacter xylinum.

The direct synthesis of bio-composite aerogel (BA) of bacterial cellulose/polysaccharide from Arenga pinnata Merr. seeds using Acetobacter xylinum has been successfully carried out. The starter of Acetobacter xylinum used was obtained from the pineapple pulp while the palm seeds with soft textured was used. The weight of the palm seeds were varied of 15, 20, 25 and 30 grams and the volume of Acetobacter xylinum were diverse from 1 to 6 ml. The process started from converting hydrogel to alcogel by exchanging ethanol solvents at concentrations of 70%, 96%, and pure ethanol followed by vacuum drying to form aerogel. Spectrophotometer FT-IR did not showed any changes in functional groups and only the interaction of bacterial cellulose and palm seed polysaccharides detected. The maximum tensile strength for (BA) was obtained in the ratio of palm seed polysaccharides with Acetobacter xylinum of 25 g : 5 ml. Compared to bacterial cellulose the BA have Young modulus and tensile strength better of 12.6 GPa and 369.1 GPa, respectively. The cavities on the surface of the bio-composite aerogel are increasingly closed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]