Exopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas mendocina P sub(2)d

Pseudomonas mendocina P sub(2)d cells grown at room temperature in sodium benzoate as sole source of carbon, followed by storage on ice, form a viscous pellet on centrifugation. Such viscosity is not produced by cells grown on glucose or any other carbohydrates. Viscosity was found to be associated with the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) of cells and not released into the supernatant fluid. A combination of sodium dodecyl sulphate-citrate buffer and homogenization was effective in releasing the EPS. The EPS is a heteropolysaccharide, consisting of rhamnose, fucose, glucose, ribose, arabinose and mannose, which has good emulsifying activity.