Production, Characterization and Bioemulsifying Activity of an Exopolysaccharide Produced by Sphingomonas sp. Isolated from Freshwater

• Published in: Journal of polymers and the environment 2017-12, Vol.25 (4), p.1080-1086
• Main Authors: Meneghine, Aylan Kener, Moretto, Cristiane, Castellane, Tereza Cristina Luque, Carareto Alves, Lúcia Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BIOTECHNOLOGY; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; CULTURE MEDIA; EMULSIFICATION; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; FRESH WATER; Frying; GASOLINE; Gellan gum; HEXANE; Hydrophobicity; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; KEROSENE; Materials Science; OILS; Original Paper; pH effects; PH VALUE; Polymer Sciences; POLYSACCHARIDES; SOLUTIONS; Sphingomonas; Stability analysis
• ISSN: 1566-2543; 1572-8919; 1572-8900
• DOI: 10.1007/s10924-016-0878-0

This study aimed to evaluate the emulsion stability of solutions containing exopolysaccharide and culture medium of a Sphingomonas sp. strain with various hydrophobic compounds. The exopolysaccharide characterized belongs to a sphingan group, however, not being a gellan gum as produced by certain Sphingomonas strains. In general, the emulsifying indexes found in this study were above 70% for gasoline, hexane, kerosene and used frying oil. Nonetheless, the best results were achieved in kerosene solutions, which showed an index of 80% after 24 h, remaining stable for more than 168 h in combinations with various EPS concentrations. Interestingly, diesel oil best results were singly achieved in solution pH of 11, showing an index of around 65%. Furthermore, hexane obtained an index of 100% after 24 h when culture medium was used. Thus, these findings highlight the use of EPS as a potential bioemulsifier agent to enhance hydrocarbon degradation and emulsification effects in environmental biotechnology.