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Toward Sustainable Xanthan Gum Production: Waste-Derived Substrates, Fermentation Optimization, and Eco-Friendly
Peer Mohamed Abdul1,2,3, Setyo Budi Kurniawan4, Rosiah Rohani1,2
1Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Sustainable xanthan gum (XG) production utilizes alternative substrates like agricultural waste and employs greener extraction methods. This approach reduces costs and environmental impact, addressing challenges in conventional manufacturing.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Biochemical Engineering
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Conventional xanthan gum (XG) production relies on refined sugars and energy-intensive processes, leading to high costs and environmental concerns.
- Rising global demand necessitates more sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing methods for XG.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in sustainable xanthan gum (XG) production.
- To highlight alternative substrates, optimized fermentation, and greener extraction technologies.
- To identify challenges and future directions for eco-friendly XG manufacturing.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on alternative substrates (agricultural residues, waste streams) for XG fermentation.
- Analysis of pretreatment strategies (acid hydrolysis, enzymatic) for biomass.
- Evaluation of advanced extraction techniques (ultrasound-assisted, pulsed electric fields, membrane filtration).
- Assessment of metabolic engineering and process control improvements.
Main Results:
- Utilization of agricultural residues and waste streams as low-cost substrates for XG production.
- Enhanced biomass accessibility through effective pretreatment methods.
- Improved XG yield, molecular weight, and rheological properties via optimized fermentation and strain engineering.
- Reduced solvent and energy consumption in downstream processing using green extraction technologies.
Conclusions:
- Sustainable XG production is achievable through the integration of alternative feedstocks and eco-friendly processing.
- Overcoming challenges related to substrate variability and regulatory hurdles is crucial for widespread adoption.
- Future research should focus on bioprocess intensification and techno-economic assessments for scalable, circular XG production systems.
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