Process intensification in co-production of plant and bacterial cellulose from citrus waste: A review

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) offers remarkable properties such as biodegradability and biocompatibility, but its commercialization remains challenging due to high costs. A promising solution involves converting such as citrus waste (CW), into BC alongside other value-added products, enhancing sustainability and reducing expenses. While CW has been studied for plant cellulose extraction and limited BC production, existing reviews focus on pectin, polyphenols, or biofuels, neglecting combined plant cellulose and BC valorization. This review analyzes plant cellulose and BC production from CW, proposing an integrated approach. It evaluates physical, chemical, and biological extraction methods for plant cellulose, comparing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. For BC, key factors such as microbial strains, culture media, and process conditions are examined, with a performance comparison across methods. Challenges in scaling up production are also discussed. The study introduces a circular system: extracting plant cellulose as the primary product and converting residues into BC as a by-product. This dual approach improves sustainability, reduces fruit waste, and aligns with eco-economic goals—a gap unexplored in prior research. By optimizing waste utilization and lowering costs, this integrated model could advance bacterial and plant cellulose production while addressing environmental concerns.