Optimization of Production and Preliminary Characterization of New Exopolysaccharides from Gluconacetobacter hansenii LMG1524

The influence of different carbon and nitrogen sources, of ethanol concentration, the optimal pH, temperature and medium composition were evaluated on extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) synthesis and bacterial growth of Gluconacetobacter hansenii LMG1524, and preliminary characterization of EPS was investigated. The highest EPS yields were obtained using glycerol and ammonium sulphate as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The increase of ethanol concentration in the medium did not influence the EPS synthesis but reduced the bacterial growth. The optimum temperature and pH for polysaccharides production were respectively 25 ̊C and 5; whereas for cell growth were respectively 30 ̊C and 4. The optimal culture medium composition was determined as follows: 10 g/L sucrose, 0.892 g/L (NH4)2SO4, 0.34 g/L NaNO3, 3 mL acetic acid, 1.5 g/L KH2PO4, 1.5 g/L K2HPO4 and 0.6 g/L MgSO4. The polysaccharides produced were of 14 and 10 polymerization degrees (DP) and constituted mainly of glucose, galactose and mannose, in relative percent of 36.36, 33.94 and 22.42, respectively.