Isolation and characterization of Aspergillus sp. for the production of extracellular polysaccharides by response surface methodology

In this study, Aspergillus sp. was isolated for the production of extracellular polysaccharide. The process parameters were initially optimized by traditional methods. The cheap substrate, wheat bran was used for the production of extracellular polysaccharide in solid state fermentation. Supplementation of (1%, w/w) maltose, gelatin enhanced EPS production (5.36 mg/g). The salts such as, Cu(2+) (4.9 mg/g), Ca(2+) (3.5 mg/g), Zn(2+) (2.9 mg/g), Mn(2+) (3.4 mg/g) and Mg(2+) (1.8 mg/g) stimulated EPS production. In two level full factorial experimental designs, the EPS yield varied from 3.18 to 11.65 mg/g wheat bran substrate with various combinations of the components supplemented with wheat bran substrate. Among these selected factors in central composite design, maltose significantly influenced on extracellular polysaccharide production.