A green approach to biomass residue valorization: Bacterial nanocellulose production from agro-industrial waste

This article aims to offer a detailed review of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), addressing its growing global relevance and exploring sustainable approaches through the use of agro-industrial residues as viable cultivation alternatives. BNC is a biopolymer produced by different microorganisms, with Komagateibacter xylinum being the most commonly used in this process. Its distinction in relation to vegetable cellulose lies mainly in its nanometric properties, such as water retention capacity, large surface area and structural resistance. The search for alternative sources has been explored for the large-scale production of biopolymers such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) from lignocellulosic biomass. The application of different residues from agroindustry, food and forestry as a source of carbon and nutrients in the biosynthesis of BNC has proven to be a promising strategy to make the production process economically viable. A significant advantage of the BNC biosynthesis process is the virtually natural purity of the cellulose produced, eliminating the need for expensive purification steps. There has been a significant increase in the number of patents related to the use of lignocellulosic biomass, filed by academic institutions and private companies in the last five years. In this context, this study condenses the fundamental principles of BNC, offers a trend analysis through bibliometric review and investigates the current panorama in BNC production, as well as its diverse applications in a wide range of sectors, such as medicine (medical devices, tissue engineering), packaging (biodegradable films, coatings), textiles (smart materials, functional fabrics), construction (sustainable materials), electronics (flexible electronic components) and other innovative areas that benefit from the unique properties of bacterial nanocellulose.