Date of Award

4-1974

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Paper Science and Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Allan M. Springer

Second Advisor

James E. Kline

Third Advisor

Dr. Darwin A. Buthala

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose was biosynthesized by Acetobacter xylinum on an enriched growth medium of glucose, yeast extract and KH2PO4. The bacterial cellulose fibers were found to be about one-fourth the size of an average softwood fiber.

Pulp and paper total mill effluents and alfalfa extract were exchanged for the glucose and the yeast extract in the growth medium to see if they could substitute for these materials. Kraft and NSSC total mill effluents were found to substitute for the glucose. The alfalfa extract was found to be a better and cheaper material than the yeast extract. Acetobacter xylinum could not synthesize cellulose on an unsterilized growth medium.

Finally, handsheets were made of the bacterial cellulose at six different levels of addition to a bleached softwood kraft pulp. These sheets were then evaluated for their physical properties. Bacterial cellulose was found to have better tensile, TEA, burst and vastly superior fold compared to a well refined bleached softwood kraft sheet, but had poor tear. Bacterial cellulose had physical properties similar to a well refined wood fiber.

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