The aim of the study was to isolate and identify an acetic acid bacterial strain having high cellulose yield and to investigate some physicochemical properties of bacterial cellulose (BC). Acetic acid bacteria were isolated by using 62 samples (vinegar, fruit, vegetable, and soil) from different region of Turkey. The cellulose production ability of 153 isolates was determined. A strain (A06O2) having high and stable cellulose yield was identified by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared with type strain Gluconacetobacter xylinus NRRL B-759. Based on the results, strain A06O2 was named at the genus level as Gluconacetobacter, however, species level identification could not be made. Celluloses from both strains were purified to investigate the physicochemical properties such as thermal properties, solubility in various solvents, elemental composition, tensile properties, and surface properties by FTIR and SEM. The results showed that the cellulose samples of two bacterial strains differed in the physicochemical properties. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 1823-1831, 2011