Flocculating activity of cross-linked poly-γ-glutamic acid against bentonite and Escherichia coli suspension pretreated with FeCl3 and its interaction with Fe3+

Application of Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid Flocculant to Flocculation–Sedimentation Treatment of Ultrafine Cement Suspension

We examined the effect of poly-γ-glutamic acid flocculant (PGAF) on the removal of ultrafine cement (UFC) particles stabilized by a poly-carboxylate co-polymer, which is a superplasticizer (SP). The flocculation–sedimentation treatment with PGAF successfully removed the SP-stabilized cement particles through the gravitational settling of the formed flocs. The removal efficiency reduced with the increase in the ionic strength, probably because of the shrunk form of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) at high ionic strengths. Increasing the mixing intensity during rapid mixing improved the removal efficiency. A series of flocculation–sedimentation experiments provided a diagram showing the relationship between ionic strengths and the addition amount of PGAF. Our results suggest that PGAF is a good candidate for the purification of cement suspension by flocculation–sedimentation, and a better removal performance can be obtained at lower ionic strengths with intense rapid mixing. From the diagram of the control charts presented in this study, we can determine the optimal addition amount of PGAF for achieving the target removal rate for cement suspension under any ionic strength.

Production of ultra-high molecular weight poly-γ-glutamic acid with Bacillus licheniformis P-104 and characterization of its flocculation properties

A novel strain of Bacillus licheniformis P-104 was isolated from Chinese soybean paste to produce a bioflocculant. The bioflocculant was confirmed as ultra-high molecular weight poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) using Fourier transform infrared spectrum, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gel permeation chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering. The production technology and flocculation properties of γ-PGA were investigated. By fed-batch fermentation in a 7-L bioreactor, the maximum γ-PGA yield reached 41.6 g L(-1) with a productivity rate of 1.07 g L(-1) h(-1). The flocculating activity of γ-PGA for kaolin suspension was 33.5±1.6 1/OD under the optimized flocculation conditions (6 mM Ca(2+), 1.5 mg L(-1) γ-PGA, and pH 6.0). The optimized dosage of γ-PGA for flocculation was just about 30 % of that of reported γ-PGA produced by other strains. Moreover, the flocculation activity of γ-PGA produced by strain P-104 was much higher than commercial γ-PGA with the molecular weight ranging 200-500 kDa and 1,500-2,500 kDa. This study provided a promising strain and an efficient method for production of ultra-high molecular weight γ-PGA which could be used as a potential green bioflocculant.

Harvesting of microalgae by flocculation with poly (γ-glutamic acid)

In an effort to search for an efficient and environmentally friendly harvesting method, a commercially available microbial flocculant poly (γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) was used to harvest oleaginous microalgae. Conditions for flocculation of marine Chlorella vulgaris and freshwater Chlorella protothecoides were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) and determined to be 22.03 mg L(-1) γ-PGA, 0.57 g L(-1) biomass, and 11.56 g L(-1) salinity, and 19.82 mg L(-1) γ-PGA and 0.60 g L(-1) biomass, respectively. Application of the two optimized flocculation methods to Nannochloropsis oculata LICME 002, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, C. vulgaris LICME 001, and Botryococcus braunii LICME 003 gave no less than 90% flocculation efficiency and a concentration factor greater than 20. Micrographs of the harvested microalgal cells showed no damage to cell integrity, and hence no lipid loss during the process. The results show that flocculation with γ-PGA is feasible for harvesting microalgae for biodiesel production.

Microbial Biosynthesis of Polyglutamic Acid Biopolymer and Applications in the Biopharmaceutical, Biomedical and Food Industries

This review article provides an updated critical literature review on the production and applications of Polyglutamic Acid (PGA). alpha-PGA is synthesized chemically, whereas gamma-PGA can be produced by a number of microbial species, most prominently various Bacilli. Great insight into the microbial formation of gamma-PGA has been gained thanks to the development of molecular biological techniques. Moreover, there is a great variety of applications for both isoforms of PGA, many of which have not been discovered until recently. These applications include: wastewater treatment, food products, drug delivery, medical adhesives, vaccines, PGA nanoparticles for on-site drug release in cancer chemotherapy, and tissue engineering.

Investigation of a CuII–Poly(γ-Glutamic Acid) Complex in Aqueous Solution and its Insulin-Mimetic Activity

The complexation between cupric ions (Cu(II)) and poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (gamma-PGA) in aqueous solutions (pH 3-11) has been studied by UV-visible absorption and electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. Formation of the Cu(II)-gamma-PGA complex is confirmed by the observation of the blue shift of the absorption band in the visible region, anisotropic line shapes in the ESR spectrum at room temperature, and a computer simulation of the visible absorption spectrum of the complex. The structure of the Cu(II)-gamma-PGA complex, depending on the pH, has been determined. The in vitro insulin-mimetic activity of the Cu(II)-gamma-PGA complex is examined by determining both inhibition of free fatty acid release and glucose uptake in isolated rat adipocytes treated with epinephrine, in which the concentration of the Cu(II)-gamma-PGA complex for 50% inhibition of free fatty acid release is very similar to that of CuSO4. However, it is significantly lower than that of a previously reported insulin-mimetic bis(3-hydroxypicolinato)copper(II), [Cu(3hpic)2], complex.

Biosynthesis of poly-gamma-glutamic acid in plants: transient expression of poly-gamma-glutamate synthetase complex in tobacco leaves

Transient expression of genes coding for the poly-gamma-glutamate (gammaPGA) synthetase system (pgs) was investigated in tobacco plants. Three genes of the pgs, pgsA, pgsB and pgsC, were separately placed under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter and introduced into tobacco leaves via Agrobacterium infection. Synthesized gammaPGA in plant tissues was detected immunologically with mouse anti-gammaPGA antiserum which specifically reacts with gammaPGA on a nitrocellulose membrane. Confirmation of gammaPGA biosynthesis in the transient expression analysis in tobacco tissue indicates that subunits of pgs complex were expressed and reassembled in a functional form.