Dresden 2020 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 24: Poster Session I
CPP 24.9: Poster
Monday, March 16, 2020, 17:30–19:30, P3
Correlation between secondary structures and viscous properties of xanthan polymers — •Jenny Fjodorova1, Gerd Hublik3, Vera Ortseifen2, Karsten Niehaus2, Volker Walhorn1, and Dario Anselmetti1 — 1Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanoscience, Bielefeld University, Germany — 2Proteome and Metabolome Research, Bielefeld University, Germany — 3Jungbunzlauer Austria AG, Pernhofen 1, 2064 Wulzeshofen, Austria
Xanthan is an extracellular polysaccharide secreted by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. Due to its unique viscosifying properties over a wide range of salt concentrations, xanthan has numerous industrial applications e.g. in food, cosmetic or oil industry. Therefore, the optimisation of xanthan production and its rheological properties is of particular interest. Targeted genetic modification of the Xanthomonas metabolism and subsequent change of salt concentrations can be a powerful tool to optimise the shear-thickening potency of the polysaccharide.
Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging and rheological measurements, we analysed the structure of single xanthan polymers in different environments. We identified structures ranging from single-stranded coiled networks to branched double-strands. Viscosity measurements show a link between the microscopic structural features and the macroscopic viscosity. Thus, we will discuss a model, which describes a correlation between the secondary structure of the polymer with its shear-thickening properties.