A cellulosic exopolysaccharide produced from sugarcane molasses by a Zoogloea sp

An extracellular polysaccharide producing bacterium Zoogloea sp. was isolated from an agro-industrial environment in the north-eastern region of Brazil. The extracellular polysaccharide produced from sugarcane molasses was hydrolysed with trifluoroacetic acid (mild and strong conditions) giving 88% of soluble material. The main monosaccharides present in the soluble fraction were glucose (87.6%), xylose (8.6%), mannose (0.8%), ribose (1.7%), galactose (0.1%), arabinose (0.4%) and glucuronic acid (0.8%). Methylation analysis of the polysaccharide showed mainly 2,3,6-tri-Omethylhexitol (74.7%) and 2,3,-di-O-methylhexitol (17.7%). Enzyme hydrolysis of the polysaccharide with a cellulase confirmed the presence of (1--->4)-beta- glucopyranosyl residues.