Effect of blue light on growth and exopolysaccharides production in phototrophic Rhodobacter sp. BT18 isolated from brackish water

Rhodobacter sp. BT18, a phototrophic salt-resistant bacterium, was isolated from brackish water and screened for the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS). The effect of different light sources on the growth of Rhodobacter sp. BT18 was investigated. The effect on the growth order was found to be blue > white > green > red > yellow > dark. Based on Box-Behnken design, the studied variables (pH 7.0, 35 °C, and 30% of sucrose concentration under 60 h of incubation with blue light illumination) were found to be ideal for the maximum production of EPS (582.5 mg/L). Scanning electron microscopy images revealed the porous nature of EPS. Fourier transform spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were applied to study the functional groups and the crystalline nature of the EPS, respectively. The emulsification index of the EPS was >75% and the maximum flocculating activity was about 75.4% at 30 mg/L concentration of EPS. In addition, EPS showed effective arsenic (64%) and lead (51%) chelating activities in liquid solutions. The multiple environmental applications of the EPS produced by Rhodobacter sp. BT18 make it be a promising alternative for emulsification, flocculation and metal removal in various industries.