Journal
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Volume 102, Issue 8, Pages 3635-3647Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8892-x
Keywords
Cyanobacteria; Extracellular polysaccharide; Optimisation; Stress; Ozone (O-3); Biolubricant
Categories
Funding
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT), government of India [BT/PR7005/PBD26/357]
- International Scientific Partnership Program (ISPP), King Saud University [0081]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Exopolysaccaharides (EPS) are carbohydrate polymers secreted by microbial cells, as a protective layer termed sheath or capsule. Their composition is variable. Optimisation of nutrient factors and the effect of some simple stresses on the ability of Cyanothece epiphytica to produce EPS were tested. Of the tested stresses, exposure to ozone for 50 s at 0.06 mg/L resulted in a relatively high EPS yield, without any damage to cell structure. EPS was characterised physicochemically. Chemically, it was found to be composed of pentoses arabinose and xylose; hexoses glucose, galactose and mannose; and the deoxyhexose fucose sugars which were sulphated and with different functional groups. EPS from C. epiphytica was found to be a good hydrophobic dispersant, an excellent emulsifier as well as a flocculant. Its potential as a biolubricant with characteristics better than the conventional lubricant 'grease' was revealed through analysis. This study gave the clue for developing a commercial technology to produce a less expensive and more environment-friendly natural lubricant from the cyanobacterium C. epiphytica for tribological applications.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available