PRODUCTION OF EXOPOLYSACCHARIDES BY ACINETOBACTER SP IN BATCH CULTUREWITH DIFFERENT POTASSIUM CONCENTRATIONS

Rheological properties of Acinetobacter sp. exopolysaccharide solution s depend upon the ratio of acylated to non-acylated polysaccharide com ponents, which varies during the course of batch cultivation and is in fluenced by cultivation conditions. This ratio becomes independent of the producer growth phase if potassium concentration in the medium is raised to 0.05 - 0.10 M: synthesis of acylated polysaccharides continu es in the stationary phase, which allows obtaining bacterial preparati ons with the desired spectrum of properties whatever the cultivation d uration.