Improved exopolysaccharide production from Bacillus licheniformis MS3: Optimization and structural/functional...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microbiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are complex microbial polymers with unique properties.
• Improving cost-effective EPS production remains a significant challenge.
• This research focuses on waste valorization for EPS synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective method for producing exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Bacillus licheniformis.
• To enhance EPS yield through mutagenesis and response surface methodology.
• To characterize the physicochemical and functional properties of the produced EPS.

Main Methods:

• Solid-state fermentation of mango peels using B. licheniformis.
• UV mutagenesis to enhance EPS production.
• Response Surface Methodology with Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD) for optimization.
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for characterization.

Main Results:

• UV treatment of B. licheniformis increased EPS yield from 3.4 to 4.6 g/L.
• Optimization via RSM-CCD further enhanced yield over 3.2-fold to 15.6 g/L.
• Characterization revealed a heteropolymeric structure (glucose, mannose, fructose) with hydrophilic properties, moderate water/oil uptake, and excellent emulsifying stability.

Conclusions:

• A cost-effective and efficient method for producing multifunctional EPS from B. licheniformis using mango peel substrate was established.
• The characterized EPS possesses properties suitable for various biochemical and biotechnological applications.
• This waste-to-value approach offers a sustainable route for biopolymer production.