Production of xanthan gum from a chemically defined medium introduction
AssigneeStandard Oil Company (Indiana)
InventorsWilliam P. Weisrock, Harriet S. Klein
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Abstract
A process is described for the continuous manufacture of xanthan gum in which continuous culture is conducted under conditions of nutrient limited growth using relatively inexpensive chemically defined media containing certain vitamins with or without amino acids. The process is directed broadly to use of bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas to produce xanthan gum from the aforesaid media.
Claims15
A continuous process for the production of a heteropolysaccharide which comprises continuously culturing a microorganism of the genus Xanthomonas in a liquid chemically defined medium free of yeast or other undefined nitrogen source, but containing both a chelating agent and organic supplements in the form of water soluble growth factors which permits said organism to grow and produce said heteropolysaccharide in a stable non-degenerative state and wherein the growth limiting nutrient in said medium is any of the nutrients normally used in said process, culturing said microorganism in said medium without discontinuing the fermentation process and withdrawing heteropolysaccharide from said medium at a rate such that an essentially steady state condition is maintained.
A process for the production of a heteropolysaccharide by means of continuous fermentation which comprises cultivating a microorganism of the genus Xanthomonas in a chemically defined medium free of yeast or other undefined nitrogen source, but containing both a chelating agent and organic supplements in the form of water soluble growth factors which permits said organism to grow and produce said heteropolysaccharide in a stable non-degenerative state and wherein the growth limiting nutrient is any of the nutrients normally used in said process so that production of said microorganism is maximized, thereafter continuously feeding the resulting broth containing the microorganisms thus produced in said medium to a second stage into which a fermentable carbohydrate is continuously fed and withdrawing heteropolysaccharide from said medium at a rate such that an essentially steady state condition is maintained, whereby the formation of heteropolysaccharide in said second stage is maximized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.