Production of exopolysaccharides by selected Bacillus strains: Optimization of media composition to maximize the yield and structural characterization.

Selected Bacillus strains were investigated for the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) by fermentation in three different culture media: (i) mineral base-medium with added yeast extract (M1), (ii) succinate-containing mineral base-medium with added yeast extract (M2) and (iii) tryptone and yeast extract-containing base-medium (M3). Modest EPS yield of 6.7g/L was recorded for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 23350 grown on M1, where the EPS produced was characterized by a low MW (<5kDa) and of being mainly glucans.