Treatment of cellulose pellicle
About 100 ml of each medium contained in 250 ml conical flask
was inoculated with Gluconacetobacter persimmonis. The flasks were
incubated at 30°C for 14 days and observed for pellicle formation.
The pellicle formed was removed carefully, boiled in 2.0% NaOH for
30 min and thoroughly washed with distilled water. The drying was
carried out at 70°C in an oven for 6 h. The dry weight of the cellulose
obtained was calculated.
Treatment of molasses
Treatment of the molasses was done referring to previous study [4].
The crude molasses was diluted fivefold (w/v) with distilled water and
centrifuged at 6,000 rev/min for 20 min to separate the solid materials.
The supernatant was designated as molasses solution. The molasses
solution was adjusted to pH 3.0 with 2 M H2
SO4
, and heated at 120°
C for
20 min, retained overnight at room temperature and then centrifuged
again at 6,000 rev/min for 20 min. This treatment was designated as
H2
SO4
-heat treatment and the supernatant was termed as H2
SO4
-
heat treated molasses. Total carbohydrate content was determined by
Anthrone method [14