Attempts to produce microbial cellulose in agitated
cultures have not been successful and microbial cellulose
have been produced with only low yields (3). The production
of cellulose from Acetobacter in agitated cultures is
beset by numerous problems, the greatest of which has
heretofore been culture instability. This instability is
demonstrated by loss of the ability to produce cellulose
and gradual replacement of cellulose-producing cells by
non-producing mutants (4).
Another problem associated with cellulose production
in agitated cultures of Acetobacter is the ability of
Acetobacter to convert glucose to gluconic acid and
ketogluconic acids (5). The production of gluconic and
ketogluconic acids remove glucose from the medium at
the expense of cellulose production.