Study of bacterial plant cellulosic fibres and bio agents for functional applications

Abstract

Natural fibres and bio agents have been studied for liquid holding capacity for various functional applications This study involves three distinct part as following In the first part biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose was carried out under ambient conditions by gram negative bacterium acetobacter xylinum using standard medium and modified media The yield of cellulose in these media was compared Bacterial cellulose was characterized using infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy Its water holding capacity was assessed and results were compared with that of plant cellulose Bacterial cellulose and plant cellulose were treated with extracts of novel natural herbs such as bitter gourd momordica charantia tridax daisy tridax procumbens and with chitosan to impart antibacterial activity The treated samples demonstrated good antibacterial property against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Modified bacterial cellulose demonstrated better antibacterial activity than that of modified plant cellulose In the second part calatropis gigantea fibre is studied for the oil absorption characteristics through detailed theoretical analysis of free space followed by experimental verification The degree of free space in the fibre are calculated and compared through x ray diffraction techniques and the Density Gradient Column DGC technique The chemical compositions of the fibres are studied through chemical analysis and FTIR technique newline