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Microbial exopolysaccharides: Synthesis pathways, types and their commercial applications
Sonali Rana1, Lata Sheo Bachan Upadhyay1
1National Institute of Technology Raipur, Department of Biotechnology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh 492010, India.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|April 19, 2020
Summary
Microbial exopolysaccharides are versatile biopolymers with diverse structures and functions. This review covers their properties, analysis, and potential applications in industries like food, cosmetics, and agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Polysaccharides are vital natural metabolites in all life forms.
- Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) are rapidly produced and crucial for microbial cell adhesion and protection.
- EPS form biofilms, protective layers around microbial colonies, with functions dependent on composition and host habitat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the physiochemical properties and composition of microbial exopolysaccharides.
- To discuss various analytical techniques used for studying exopolysaccharides.
- To explore potential commercial applications of microbial exopolysaccharides.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of microbial exopolysaccharides.
- Discussion of analytical techniques including High Performance Anion Exchange Chromatography, Size Exclusion Chromatography with multi-laser light scattering (SEC-MALLS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA).
Main Results:
- Microbial exopolysaccharides exhibit diverse physiochemical properties and compositions.
- A range of advanced analytical techniques are available for their characterization.
- Understanding these properties and compositions enables diverse applications.
Conclusions:
- Microbial exopolysaccharides are valuable biopolymers with significant potential.
- Their unique properties and the available analytical methods support broad industrial applications.
- Further research can unlock novel uses in sectors such as dairy, cosmetics, agriculture, and petroleum.
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