ABSTRACT
THE BACILLUS megaterium exopolysaccharide [EPS] producer was isolated from the Egyptian soil and identified by molecular biology technique [16S rRNA]. It was found that the exopoiysaccharide showed a high yield after 72 hr, with an initial pH of 5.0, in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks containing 50 ml of culture, medium having 2% sucrose as a sole carbon source. The yeast extract [0.1%] and animonium chloride [0.1%] were the best organic and inorganic nitrogen source, respectively, as they gave the maximum EPS production. Optimum incubation temperature was found to be 35°C. Pretreated molasses from sugarcane and sugarbeet were used as carbon source and they gave a considerable yield [-tow fold] in relation to sucrose. The pretreatment of molasses by sulfuric acid showed high yield of polysaccharide and maximum yield coefficient