COMPARISON OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF A NOVEL POLYSACCHARIDE PRODUCED BY BACILLUS-CIRCULANS WITH COMMERCIAL POLYSACCHARIDES

Physicochemical properties of a new polysaccharide produced by Bacillu s circulans were investigated by comparing with those of xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, sodium alginate and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The polysaccharide produced by B. circulans (BPS) showed a high water-holding capacity at 0.1% concentration together with a good emu lsifying effect of oil next to xanthan gum. The viscosity of 1% BPS so lution was about 900 cP, the value being nearly equal to that of xanth an gum. The viscosity of BPS solution was almost unchanged at a pH ran ge between 5 and 9, and the heat treatment of BPS at 100 degrees C for 30 min brought about a 25% decrease in viscosity. The addition of 30% glucose to BPS solution enhanced the viscosity by 20%, but the additi on of 1% citric acid lowered the viscosity to about 30%. A synergistic effect of BPS on the increase in the viscosity of locust bean gum or guar gum solution was observed. A maximum viscosity of a mixed solutio n of BPS and locust bean gum or guar gum was obtained at a ratio of ab out 2:8 (v/v). A Young's modulus of a film prepared from BPS was appar ently higher than that of CMC and guar gum.