ABSTRACT

The exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by cyanobacteria are important constituents for the development of biofilm through association of microbial communities in various habitats. Discoveries in the field of cyanobacterial exopolysaccharide synthesis have opened up new opportunities for bioprocess engineers towards the production of biopolymers which is suitable for various industrial applications. Such engineering approaches are able to produce efficient exopolysaccharide as well as modified polymers exhibiting unique functional properties for specific interest. Therefore, a low-cost production system along with improving the quality of exopolysaccharide becomes economically viable, which is only possible through the development of an optimized production system. This book chapter aims to demonstrate the most important studies on the bioprocess engineering approaches of native producer for enhanced production of EPS available in literature to date. The chapter also discusses technical concerns about the application of various reactors and their optimization for high yield cyanobacterial exopolysaccharide production. In addition, progress toward purification of exopolysaccharide using suitable unit operation is highlighted extensively in this chapter.26