Binding of Colloidal MnO(2) by Extracellular Polysaccharides of Pedomicrobium manganicum

The extracellular acidic polysaccharides of the manganese-oxidizing bacterium Pedomicrobium manganicum were able to bind preformed colloidal MnO(2). The capacity of the cells to bind MnO(2) was pH dependent. Enhanced binding capacity below pH 5 suggests that ionic bonding forces are involved in the binding mechanism and that there is a charge reversal on the acidic polysaccharides between pH 5 and 4 that is due to increased protonation of carboxyl groups.