Biopolymers and cell. 2003; 19 (5): 393 - 413

Influence of the producer cultivation conditions on synthesis, physical and chemical properties of exopolysaccharides

T. P. Pirog, Yu. V. Kuzminskaya

A review represents the data concerning the influence of the producer cultivation conditions on the synthesis, physical and chemical properties of exopolysaccharides (EPS), The formation of microbial EPS (quantity, rate of their synthesis and yield from a substrate) depends on the composition of nutrient medium (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus source, their concentration, ratio carb¬on/nitrogen, metal ions), mode of a substrate supply, physical and chemical factors (temperature, pH, aeration), duration of a process at periodic cultivation, dilution rate under continuous cultivation. Different conditions of a producer growth can change chemical composition of EPS, their molecular mass and ratio of several polysaccharides, that affects rheological properties of EPS solutions, determining their practical significance. The necessity of data concerning the influence of cultivation conditions on the synthesis, physical and chemical properties of EPS for the development of biotechnology of obtaining EPS with given stable properties is discussed.