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Poster Presentation 2-31
Reduction of Transition Metals by Bacterial Cellulose and Cellulose-producing Bacteria
Barbara R. Evans1, Hugh M. O’Neill1, Valerie P. Malyvanh-Jansen2, and Jonathan Woodward1
1Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6194
2Maryville College, Maryville, TN 37804
Telephone: (865) 241-3185; Fax: (865) 574-1275; E-mail: evansb@ornl.gov
The bacterium Gluconoacetobacter hansenii (ATCC 10821, formerly classified as Acetobacter xylinus) synthesizes a pellicule of pure cellulose at the air-liquid interface of its culture medium. This cellulose differs from that produced by plants in its gel-like appearance and high water content. It was discovered that the surface-accessible reducing ends of the purified cellulose carried out the reduction of soluble transition metals, resulting in the deposition of metal on the surface of the cellulose fibers. Metal nanoparticles and clusters on the surface of the cellulose fibers were visualized with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In other experiments, pellicules containing Gluconoacetobacter cells were shown to be capable of oxidizing glucose and mannitol. Electron transfer to the indicator dyes dichloroindophenol and Neutral Red was demonstrated and was unaffected by metal deposition in the cellulose pellicules.
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