Influence of exopolymers produced by bacterial cells on hydrophobicity of substrate surface

Exopolymers produced during copper bioleaching from copper sulphides could modify the surface of substrata. The substrate surface was more hydrophobic for exopolymer solution than for water or control sample and the changes depended on the concentration of exopolymer solution. When the concentration of exopolymer was close to that in the environment, the changes were more significant. It appears that the structure of exopolymer is important and dependent on the degree of molecule hydration.