Effect of synthetic carbon substrates and cane molasses, an agro waste, on exopolysaccharide production by P. fluorescens

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) from P.fluorescens was produced using sucrose and sugarcane molasses as the carbon substrates at different concentrations (1-7%), at different incubation time (12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hr). The extraction was carried out using ethanol precipitation technique. The lyophilized samples were analysed for its total carbohydrates content. The predominant sugar was found to be glucose by TLC. The functional groups were identified using FT-IR spectroscopy. Maximum production was given by the medium containing 5% sugarcane molasses and was found to be 2843 mg/l at 48 hr after which the production decreased. The EPS production using sugarcane molasses gave comparatively a higher yield than sucrose, which could be commercialized for a cost effective production of this viscous to plastic polymers.