Abstract:
In the present study, thirty EPS producing bacteria isolated from municipal and industrial wastewater samples were cultured on modified Bromfield agar medium consisting of 4% (w/v) sucrose. Five isolates were characterized as high exopolysaccharide producer under aerobic condition at 30oC, 24 hours, including, RV1 (4.65g/L), MK8 (4.17 g/L), CG11 (3.11 g/L), MK10 (2.63 g/L) and MK11 (2.28 g/L). Morphological and physiological studies revealed these five bacteria as Gram negative bacteria. Taxonomic studies and 16S rDNA analysis identified isolate MK8 as Klebsiella sp., CG11, MK10, MK11 and RV1 as K. pneumoniae strain TGH10, 211, AATTZP and Marseille-P215, respectively. Chemical analysis of polysaccharides obtained demonstrated their similarity of partly water soluble and insoluble in organic solvents. Results from acid hydrolysis followed by HPLC analysis showed that they consisted of glucose, galactose, xylose, ribose, ramnose and other sugars, thus, they are heteropolysaccharide with neutral and negative charges. The effects of exopolysaccharide and CaCl2 concentrations, pH and temperature on the flocculation activity were evaluated. The maximum flocculation activity was observed at an optimum exopolysaccharide concentration of 1 mg/L (88.80%), CaCl2 of 7.5 g/L (82.99%), pH 7(83.77%) with strong thermal stability of 40oC (79.61%). After optimization, the exopolysaccharide produced (MK8, MK11, MK10, RV1 and CG11) were applied in wastewater from Chulalongkorn University and found that flocculating activity (turbidity removal) increased to the range of 48.27-53.06%, therefore, this exopolysaccharide could be a good candidate for city wastewater treatment.