Bioconversion of sugarcane molasses into xanthan gum

A strain of Xanthomonas campestris E-NRC-3 was used for the production of xanthan gum from a medium based on cane sugar molasses. The effect of sugar concentration, fortification with different nitrogen sources and aeration rate on the yield of xanthan was investigated. The optimum conditions were 25% sugar in the medium, fortification with 2.4 g nitrogen per liter of ammonium chloride, air/medium ratio of 3:2 and 3 days of incubation at 30°C. Under these conditions the yield of xanthan gum by the used strain reached as high as 70.5 g l −1.