All bacterial cellulose membranes obtained in the different experiments were characterized in terms of surface morphology, crystallinity and structure.
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the BC surfaces was performed using a SU-70 Hitachi instrument operating at 4 KV. Samples were previously coated with evaporated carbon.
XRD patterns of all BC membranes were measured with a Phillips X’pert MPD diffractometer using Cu Ka radiation. The crystallinity percentage was measure as c (%) 1⁄4 (Imax Imin)/ Imax 100%, where Imax is the height of the peak at 2q 1⁄4 22.5 and Imin the minimum between the peak at q 1⁄4 22.5 and the peak at 2q 1⁄4 16.3.
FTIR-ATR spectra were taken with a Perkin Elmer FTIR System spectrometer equipped with a single horizontal Golden Gate ATR cell: the resolution was 4 cm 1 after 32 scans. Spectra were collected from 4000 to 600 cm 1.