[Xanthan production by Xanthomonas campestris in a non-conventional culture medium]

Among 3 varieties of Xanthomonas campestris, the variety ocumo (X. campestris pv. ocumo), showed the greatest capacity for producing xanthan. This bacteria grows appropriately and produces this polysaccharide in a wide diversity of carbohydrate sources. However, this strain does not produce xanthan when the carbohydrate comes from lignocellulosic materials. The glucose syrup FAVEPRO was the carbon source that showed the best yield (23 g/l) with the greatest viscosity (7000 cps) of xanthan. The optimum production conditions in 1 L erlenmeyer flasks, with a working volume of 0.2 L and in a 14 L (stirred tank type bioreactor) with a working volume of 10 L, were the following: total sugar 5%, urea 0.05%, di-potassium hydrogen phosphate 0.5%, pH 7.5, inoculum 10%, temperature 30 degrees C, agitation 250-1000 rpm and aereation 0.3-1.0 vvm. This strain of X. campestris pv. ocumo was able to produce xanthan (10 g/l) in a culture medium based on a previously treated agricultural waste, called soluble acid extract of cassava bark. The viscosity of this medium increased up to 1500 cps.