Biotechnological production of xanthan gum in some agro-industrial waste, characterization and applications

The waste generated in the agribusiness represent economic losses in the production process and unless they receive proper destination, may provide environmental problems, highlighting the need for installation of sustainable production systems. In this sense, the optimization of biotechnological processes for the production of xanthan gum from agro-industrial waste production become more viable. Xanthan gum is a microbial heteropolysaccharide extracellular used as rheology control agent in aqueous systems and stabilizers in emulsions and suspensions. Because of these properties is widely used in a wide range of industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, cosmetics, oil, among others. This paper aims to conduct a review on the use of residual biomass in the production of xanthan gum, a survey of the major advances to minimize production of biopolymer and a review of the applicability of gum. The use of alternative substrates could help the production of xanthan gum in the country, helping to eliminate environmental problems such as effluent disposal, enabling economic recovery of this waste, besides that Brazil could meet its own demand of xanthan gum with greater competitiveness the final price.