MICROBIAL PRODUCTION OF POLYSACCHARIDES FROM MILK PERMEATE

Abstract

Milk permeate was utilized as a substrate to produce polysaccharide using• lactose fermenting strains. Two strains, Bifidobacterium /ongum ATCC 15707 and Lactobacillus casei ssp. casei NCIB 4114, have been examined for their exopolysaccharide [EPS] production capacity under anaerobic conditions from milk permeate after incubation at 3o•c for 48h with two different inoculum volume (1 and 10% (v/v)]. B. longum was found to be efficient producer of EPS and hence selected as a representative, high level producing strain. The fermentation conditions, i.e. temperature, pH, time, inoculum volume, sources of carbon and nitrogen at different concentration and C/N ratio affecting EPS production by B. /ongum were investigated. Maximum viscosity (8.67 mPa.s) and production of EPS (7.39 g/1) by B. longum was obtained from milk permeate containing 49 g/1 initial lactose, 15 g/1 glucose, 5 g/1 Ammonium sulphate with initial pH7, inoculum volume of 10% at 3o•c and 48h of incubation.