Production of an exopolysaccharide bioflocculant by Sorangium cellulosum.
OBJECTIVE
To isolate a new exopolysaccharide bioflocculant produced by the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum NUST06, and to characterize its chemical composition and expolysaccharide production relative to carbon source.


RESULTS
Exopolysaccharide levels and biomass production by S. cellulosum NUST06 were analysed relative to carbon source. Glucose in the medium at a level of 3 g l(-1) completely inhibited cell growth and exopolysaccharide production, but low concentrations of glucose (1-2 g l(-1)) could stimulate cell utilization of starch. The chemical composition and flocculating activity of the NUST06 exopolysaccharide was investigated. The flocculant comprised 38.3% proteins and 58.5% carbohydrates, of which glucose, mannose and glucuronic acid were present at 51.3%, 39.2% and 10.5%, respectively. The flocculating activity of the NUST06 flocculant depended strongly on cations.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to produce an exopolysaccharide bioflocculant by the strain NUST06 in a mineral salts medium using starch as a carbon source.


CONCLUSIONS
This strain may be advantageous for commercial bioflocculant production and may enrich existing knowledge of myxobacteria.
Zhang
J
J
Department of Biology, Nanjing University, China.
Wang
R
R
Jiang
P
P
Liu
Z
Z
D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D005427:Flocculation; D005428:Flocculation Tests; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009231:Myxococcales / Q000378:metabolism*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D002244:Carbon