SUGARCANE VINASSE AS SUBSTRATE FOR BIO-BASED POLYMERS SYNTHESIS BY EXOPOLYSACCHARIDES PRODUCING BACTERIAL STRAINS

The exopolysaccharides (EPSs) belong to the family of organic thickeners or alternative hydrocolloids of microbial origin (Cerning 1990). EPS are produced by bacteria, microalgae and by yeasts and molds to protect the cell from unfavorable, limiting or toxic conditions and from the external environment (Sutherland, 1972). Due to their chemical structures that offers beneficial bioactive functions, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, EPSs are used in chemical, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, packaging industries, agriculture, and medicine, as adhesives, absorbents, lubricants and cosmetic (Mata et al., 2006). For the EPS production at industrial scale, microbial processes are faster than traditional EPSs extraction with highest production yields. Currently a wide range of agricultural by-products and waste materials are used as components of the substrates for the production of EPS like sugarcane vinasse.