Dilute Solution Properties of Biopolymer Produced by Alkali-Tolerant Bacillus sp.

알칼리 내성 Bacillus Sp.에 의한 생물 고분자의 희석용액 특성

Highly viscous biopolymer from alkali-tolerant Bacillus sp. was purified and its solution properties were investigated. The intrinsic viscosities for crude biopolymer and biopolymers purified by dialysis or CPC(cetylpyridinium chloride) treatment were 58.24, 73.60 and 42.18 dL/g, respectively. The intrinsic viscosity of biopolymer showed the maximum value at the neutral pH but it was decreased remarkably at the alkaline or acidic pH. Biopolymer exhibited the property of polyelectrolyte, showing the sharp decrease of intrinsic viscosity by the addition of NaCl. Intrinsic viscosity of dilute solution at the low NaCl concentration was exponentially dependent on temperature and its temperature dependency was increased with NaCl concentrations. The chain stiffness, coil overlap parameter, and critical concentration were 0.09, 5.25 and 0.07g/dL, respectively. Temperature dependency on intrinsic viscosity of biopolymer solution was different each other at $45^{\circ}C$. Flow activation energies at temperatures above $45^{\circ}C$ were constant, while those at temperatures below $45^{\circ}C$ increased with increase of added NaCl concentration.