Fluid Dynamic Properties of Bacterial Cellulose and Application

Andrew Keefe (8 May 2006)

The purpose of this study was to develop a new use for microbial cellulose produced by the bacterium, Acetobacter xylinum. There is a potential application of bacterial cellulose to construct a nano-scale laminar flow reactor. Small particles (i.e. enzymes or solid phase reactants) can be embedded in a growing cellulose matrix with geographic specificity. A fluid containing a substrate can then be passed through this active region to allow a reaction to occur. The first step in developing this reactor was to analyze the fluid dynamic properties of liquid through cellulose.