Development of novel biocomposites based on the clean production of microbial cellulose from dairy waste (sour whey)

This work explores the production of kombucha‐derived bacterial cellulose (KBC) from sour whey via the fermentation method using Komagatacibacter xylinus. The biosynthesis process was optimized by design of experiments and the results displayed highest KBC yield at 1000 ml/L sour whey waste, 87.39 g/L cane sugar, 6 g/L black tea, and 78.91 ml/L bacteria volume under 21 days culture period at 30°C. Optimum fermentation batch efficiency was achieved in large scale with cultured medium depths of 0.5 cm and low‐residual bacteria suspension volume of 72.31 ± 8.74 ml. The obtained KBC membranes were analyzed by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA. The obtained results show no significant differences for all prepared KBC samples when compared to pristine bacterial cellulose from standard Hestrin and Schramm (HS) medium. In addition, the optimized KBC was investigated as a suitable bio‐filler in the preparation of biocomposite materials. The prepared biocomposites as leather alternative were further characterized and their mechanical tensile strength and elongation at break determined in the range of 135.61 ± 9.15 to 154.89 ± 9.09 N/mm2 and 31.06 ± 0.32 to 92.33 ± 6.91%, respectively. This model obtained depicts high‐yield production of KBC and its potential in the preparation of biocomposites.