Abstract
In this paper, a method of cultivation and characteristics of obtained bacterial cellulose
is presented. It was stated that the greatest increase in the weight of bacterial cellulose
takes place after 7 - 8 days of breeding Acetobacter xylinum at a temperature of 30 °C,
using a Herstin-Schramm nutrient medium. The highest degree of polymerisation exists in
bacterial cellulose synthesied with glucose and mannitol average degree of polymerisation
(approx 1700), and xylose (approx. 1050), as a carbon source. In the photograph showing
the structure of cellulose (taken under an AFM microscope), one can clearly see long,
smooth and oriented fibrils and fibril bundles which have a width varying from 70 to
200 nm. Bacterial cellulose exhibits considerable thermal stability. The quick drop of a
sample weight leading to its decomposition begins at a temperature of approx. 300 °C, and
the maximum of this transformation occurs at 350 - 370 °C