Analysis of microbial exopolysaccharides from industrial water systems

Summary The monosaccharide composition of exopolysaccharides extracted from mixed microbial slimes from cooling towers and process waters of paper machines was determined. Gas chromatographic evidence demonstrated that the microbial slimes found in these industrial systems were heteropolysaccharides, each composed of more than one monosaccharide. Monosaccharides identified in deposit samples were glucose, mannose, galactose, rhamnose, fucose, and glucuronic acid. The methods reported allow efficient extraction and analysis of microbial exopolysaccharides, and the results have implications for slime control strategies in industrial systems.