Abstract
Cultural conditions for the polysaccharide production by Bacillus polymyxa No. 271 were studied. The strain was capable of producing an acidic polysaccharide from xylose, fructose, glucose, mannose, galactose, lactose, maltose, glycerol and mannitol. The constituent sugars and some physical properties of the polysaccharides obtained from the above sugars were essentially identical.
The most suitable medium contained 4% glucose, 0. 5% peptone (pancreatic digest of casein), 0.5% calcium carbonate and other inorganic salts. Monobasic potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate and manganese sulfate were required. Both Mg2+ and Mn2+ were essential for the formation of polymer. In order to maintain the pH value of 5.5 or above during the fermentation, the addition of calcium carbonate was effective. The optimum initial pH value and temperature were 6.5 and 28°C, respectively. In these conditions, the polysaccharide produced from glucose was obtained in a yield of 16.5 gram per liter corresponding to 45%, based on the consumed sugar.
