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Updated: Oct 12, 2025
Automated Modular High Throughput Exopolysaccharide Screening Platform Coupled with Highly Sensitive Carbohydrate Fingerprint Analysis
Published on: April 11, 2016
Systematic optimization of exopolysaccharide production by Gluconacetobacter sp. and use of (crude) glycerol as
Tristan Rath1, Broder Rühmann1, Jochen Schmid2
1Chair of Chemistry of Biogenic Resources, Technical University of Munich, Campus for Biotechnology and Sustainability, 94315 Straubing, Germany.
Abstract:
The usage of polysaccharides as biodegradable polymers is of growing interest in the context of a sustainable and ecofriendly economy. For this, the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) by Gluconacetobacter sp. was investigated. Glycerol as carbon source revealed to be beneficial compared to glucose. In addition, pure glycerol could be substituted by a crude glycerol waste stream from biodiesel production. Systematic analysis of the peptone and phosphate concentrations in glycerol-based media indicated a strong effect of peptone. Optimized parameters resulted in a titer of 25.4 ± 2.4 g/L EPS with a productivity of 0.46 ± 0.04 g*(L*h)-1. With decreasing peptone, a variation in the monomer ratios was observed. An accompanying change in molecular size distribution indicated the production of two different polysaccharides. Intensified analysis revealed the main polysaccharide to be composed of glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), mannose (Man) and glucuronic acid (GlcA), and the minor polysaccharide of Gal, Man, ribose (Rib).
