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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.06.09.730694

Kombucha-Derived Cellulose Non-wovens: Growth Optimization, Mechanics, and Recycling

He, L. L.·Lopez, J.·Schiffman, J. D.
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Abstract

The environmental impact of synthetic textiles has prompted the search for sustainable and biodegradable alternatives. This study correlates the growth conditions used to produce kombucha-derived cellulose non-woven mats with their mechanical performance as a function of post-processing. Systematically, the fermentation and growth parameters of the non-wovens, including inoculum density, carbon-source loading, temperature, and pH value were investigated. Thick, uniform non-wovens were obtained using mildly acidic conditions that balanced nutrient availability and growth rate, moderate inoculum and carbon loading at 30 {degrees}C. Next, we used uniaxial tensile testing and rheology to thoroughly compare the mechanical properties of two post-processing routes, lyophilization and oven-drying against the as-produced wet non-wovens. Overall, the lyophilized non-wovens displayed the highest ultimate tensile strength (14.36 {+/-}0.9 MPa) and elongation at break (24.54 {+/-}1.9%), which were statistically greater than the oven-dried (2.54 {+/-}0.3 MPa, 6.03 {+/-}0.8%) and the wet non-wovens (1.66 {+/-}0.3 MPa, 9.35 {+/-}2.8%). We conclude by performing a proof-of-concept recyclability experiment: we showed that kombucha-derived clothing could be enzymatically degraded and then re-manufactured into new nanofibers by electrospinning. Together, these results demonstrate a circular pathway encompassing the growth and processing of mechanically robust kombucha-derived cellulose non-wovens, as well as their biodegradation and re-manufacturing.

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He, L. L., Lopez, J., Schiffman, J. D.. 2026-06-12. Kombucha-Derived Cellulose Non-wovens: Growth Optimization, Mechanics, and Recycling. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.09.730694

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