Enhanced Xanthan Gum Production Using Molasses as a Carbon Source in Xanthomonas campestris Fermentation
Subject Areas : Plant Microbiology
1 - Department of Petroleum Engineering, Technical and Engineering Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Xanthan gum production, Xanthomonas campestris, Molasses fermentation, Growth media optimization,
Abstract :
Xanthan gum, a microbial polysaccharide produced by Xanthomonas campestris, is widely used in various industries due to its unique rheological properties. The choice of growth medium plays a crucial role in maximizing xanthan production. In this study, we evaluated the production of xanthan by two X. campestris strains using two different media: NB medium and molasses. Xanthan gum was precipitated using isopropanol and calcium chloride, followed by centrifugation to measure yield. The results showed significant differences in production between the two media. Strain 1 in NB medium produced 8.00 g/L of xanthan, while Strain 1 in molasses yielded 45.40 g/L. Similarly, strain 2 in NB medium produced 9.60 g/L, whereas strain 2 in molasses exhibited the highest yield of 52.00 g/L. These findings indicate that molasses, due to its rich carbon content, substantially enhances xanthan production compared to NB medium. This study underscores the potential of molasses as a cost-effective substrate for industrial-scale xanthan production, especially with high-yielding bacterial strains. Further optimization of fermentation parameters could lead to even higher production efficiencies.
