Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Industrial Applications of Some New Microbial Polysaccharides

Bio/Technology volume 1, pages 778–783 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

In recent years, significant progress has been made in discovering and developing new bacterial polysaccharides that possess novel and highly functional properties. For example, the relationship between the unique properties of xanthan gum—the first microbial polysaccharide of commercial significance—and its use in major food, industrial, and oil field applications is discussed. In addition, gellan gum, the extracellular polysaccharide produced by Pseudomonas elodea, can be used in microbiological media and in gelled and structured food products. Three other industrially useful bacterial polysaccharides have been developed. S–130, the extracellular, high viscosity polysaccharide produced by a strain of Alcaligenes, has excellent suspending and heat stability properties useful in oil field drilling, workover and completion, and enhanced oil recovery fluids. S–194 has excellent suspending properties and unusual compatibility with salts, making it useful in agricultural applications, particularly flowable pesticides and liquid fertilizers. S–198 has excellent stability to shear and has potential application in the developing market of water–based lubricants.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McNeely, W.H. and Kang, K.S. 1973. Xanthan and Some Other Biosynthetic Gums, p. 473–497. In: Industrial Gums, 2nd Ed., R. L. Whistler and J. N. BeMiller (eds.) Academic Press, New York.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  2. Cottrell, I.W. and Kang, K.S. 1978. Xanthan gum, a unique bacterial polysaccharide for food applications. Dev. Ind. Microbiol. 19: 117–131.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lawson, M.A. and Fitzgerald, E.E. Unpublished data.

  4. Pettitt, D.J. unpublished data.

  5. Jansson, P.E., Kenne, L. and Lindberg, B. 1975. Structure of the extracellular polysaccharide from Xanthamunas campestris. Carb. Res. 45: 275–282.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Melton, L.D., Mindt, L., Rees, D.A. and Sanderson, G.R. 1976. Covalent structure of the extracellular polysaccharide from Xanthomonas campestris: evidence from partial hydrolysis studies. Carb. Res. 46: 245–257.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Moorhouse, R., Walkinshaw, M.D. and Arnott, S. 1977. Xanthan gum—molecular conformation and interactions. Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser. 45: 90–102.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rinaudo, M. and Milas, M. 1982. Xanthan properties in aqueous solution. Carb. Polymers. 2: 264–269.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Frangou, S.A., Morris, E.R., Rees, D.A., Richardson, R.K. and Ross-Murphy, S.B. 1982. Molecular origin of xanthan solution rheology: effect of urea on chain conformation and interactions. J. Polymer Sci. Polymer Letters Edition. 20: 531–538.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kang, K.S. and Veeder, G.T. 1983. Fermentation Process for its Preparation of Polysaccharide S-60. U.S. Pat. 4,377,636.

  11. Kang, K. S. and Veeder, G.T. 1982. Polysaccharide S-60 and Bacterial Fermentation Process for its Preparation. U.S. Pat. 4,326,053.

  12. Kang, K.S., Colegrove, G.T. and Veeder, G.T. 1982. Deacetylated Polysaccharide S-60. U.S. Pat. 4,326,052.

  13. Browning, B.L. 1967. Uronic Acids: Determination by Decarboxylation. Methods of Wood Chemistry. 2: 632–637.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bitter, T. and Muir, H.M. 1962. A Modified Uronic Acid Carbazole Reaction. Anal. Biochem. 4: 330–334.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kosakai, M. and Yosizawa, Z. 1975. A Partial Modification of the Carbazole Method of Bitter and Muir for Quantitation of Hexuronic Acids. Anal. Biochem. 69: 415–19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hestrin, S.J. 1949. The reaction of acetylcholine and other carboxylic acid derivatives with hydroxylarnine, and its analytical application. J. Biol. Chem. 180: 249–261.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Jansson, P.-E., Lindberg, B. and Sandford, P. A. 1983. unpublished data.

  18. O'Neill, M.A., Sclvendran, R.R. and Morris, V.J. unpublished data.

  19. Moorhouse, R., Colegrove, G.T., Sandford, P.A., Baird, J.K. and Kang, K.S. 1981. PS-60: a new gel-forming polysaccharide. Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser. 150: 111–124.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Veeder, G.T., Cottrell, I.W. and Kang, K.S. unpublished data.

  21. Shungu, D. 1983. unpublished data.

  22. Anon. 1983. Fermentation yields a new gum. Food Engineering. 55: 52–53.

  23. Sanderson, G.R. 1981. Polysaccharides in foods. Food Technol. 35: 50–57, 83.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kang, K.S. and Veeder, G.T. 1982. Heteropolysaccharide S-130. U.S. Pat. 4,342,866.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kelco Div. of Merck & Co., Inc., 8225 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA, 92123

    J. K. Baird, P. A. Sandford & I. W. Cottrell

Authors
  1. J. K. Baird
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. A. Sandford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. W. Cottrell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Baird, J., Sandford, P. & Cottrell, I. Industrial Applications of Some New Microbial Polysaccharides. Nat Biotechnol 1, 778–783 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1183-778

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1183-778

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing