Microbial polysaccharides: New products and their commercial applications

Abstract

In the past two decades, significant progress has been made in the identification, characterization, and commercialization of microbially-derived polysaccharides. Although xanthan gum is the only commercially significant microbial polysaccharide to be used in food, industrial, and oil field applications, other new microbial polysaccharides are the main topic of this paper. Gellan gum, a microbial polysaccharide from Pseudomonas elodea, is sold now for use in microbiological media as a gelling agent to replace agar. Gellan gum's unique properties also appear to have great potential in structured food products. S-130, a biopolymer from a strain of Alcaligenes has excellent heat stability, suspending capabilities, and rheological properties which are useful in a variety of oil field applications. S-194, another biopolymer, has unusual compatibility with high levels of salts, is stable to shear, and has excellent suspending properties. S-194 is particularly useful in agricultural applications, especially suspension (liquid) fertilizers and flowable pesticides.New applications for xanthan gum, including its use in retort pouch foods, candy, farinaceous foods, jet and foam printing will be briefly reviewed also.It appears as if new microbial polysaccharides will continue to be discovered and some of these will undoubtedly outperform current polysaccharides in the market place. © 1984 IUPAC