Characterization of Bacterial Nanocellulose Produced by Tropical Fruit-Derived Bacteria in Coconut Water Medium Supplemented with Pineapple Peel Extract

Agro-industrial residues, such as surplus fruits and vegetables are increasingly recognized as valuable sources for isolating bacterial strains capable of efficiently producing bacterial nanocellulose (BNC). This study presents a novel approach to BNC production using Komagataeibacter intermedius SB 110 isolated from rotten pineapple, cultivated in a sustainable medium of coconut water enriched with 5% sucrose and 0.5% pineapple peel extract. By leveraging agricultural waste, this method accelerates BNC biosynthesis to less than 7 days and achieves a yield of 5.563 g/L over 14 days, a 1.58-fold increase compared with traditional media. The BNCs were primarily composed of cellulose type I, with minor cellulose type II, ultrafine fiber sizes (58.3 to 84.98 nm) and a high crystallinity index (60.81% to 78.34%), indicating superior structural quality. This innovative process not only demonstrates the potential of using low-cost, sustainable substrates for high-yield BNC production but also significantly enhances both the efficiency and scalability of the production process, setting a new standard over existing methods.