Extracellular microbial polysaccharides: Generalized power law for biopolysaccharide solutions

A generalized power low model, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \eta \, = \,\eta _0 1\, + \,(\dot \gamma /\gamma _0 )];{N - 1} $\end{document}, is shown to described satisfactorily the shear viscosity data for xanthan gum solutions from 0.18 g/L to nearly 4 g/L and low to intermediate shear rates. Since mixing, mass and heat transfer, residence time distributions, and power input for agitation and aeration all depend on shear viscosity, this equation provides a simple prediction of this important quantity over the shear rate ranges characteristic of fermentations.