Halogenated emulsans

A method of making fluorinated emulsans which comprises culturing an emulsan producing organism in the presence of fluorinated compounds that are assimilated by the microorganism and incorporated into the emulsan molecule elaborated by the organism.

In a method of making emulsans by culturing an emulsan producing microorganism in a culture medium under conditions sufficient to produce emulsans, the improvement which comprises:

• adding one or more fluorinated compounds to the culture medium whereby the fluorinated compounds are assimilated by the microorganism and incorporated into the emulsan molecule resulting in fluorinated emulsans.

A fluorinated emulsan polymer made by a process which comprises fermenting a microorganism capable of producing emulsans in an effective emulsan producing culture medium wherein the culture medium contains fluorinated compounds that are assimilated by the microorganism and incorporated into the emulsan molecule elaborated by the microorganism.

A polysaccharide backbone fluorinated emulsan polymer made by a process which comprises fermenting Actinobacter calcoaceticus RAG1 in an effective emulsan producing culture medium wherein the culture medium contains one or more fluorinated carboxylic acid compounds or esters thereof that are assimilated by the microorganism and incorporated into the emulsan molecule made by the microorganism whereby the fluorinated carboxylic acid or fluorinated carboxylic acid ester is attached to the polysaccharide backbone of the emulsan.

An isolated fluorinated emulsan containing a polysaccharide backbone produced by the fermentation of Actinobacter calcoaceticus RAG1 in the presence of one or more fluorinated carboxylic acid compounds or fluorinated carboxylic acid ester compounds whereby said fluorinated compounds are attached to the polysaccharide backbone of the emulsan.

A method of making emulsans which comprises culturing a microorganism capable of producing emulsans in an effective emulsan producing culture medium wherein the culture medium contains as the carbon source (a) a lower alcohol and (b) fluorinated compounds that are assimilated by the microorganism and incorporated into the emulsan molecule elaborated by the microorganism.

In a method of making emulsans by culturing an emulsan producing microorganism in a culture medium containing a carbon source under conditions sufficient to produce emulsans, the improvement which comprises employing as the carbon source:

• a. a lower alcohol and
• b. one or more fluorinated compounds whereby the fluorinated compounds are assimilated by the microorganism and incorporated into the emulsan molecule resulting in fluorinated emulsans.