Biopolymers Produced by Sphingomonas Strains and Their Potential Applications in Petroleum Production

Abstract

The genus Sphingomonas was established by Yabuuchi et al. in 1990, and has attracted much attention in recent years due to its unique ability to degrade environmental pollutants. Some Sphingomonas species can secrete high-molecular-weight extracellular polymers called sphingans, most of which are acidic heteropolysaccharides. Typical sphingans include welan gum, gellan gum, and diutan gum. Most sphingans have a typical, conserved main chain structure, and differences of side chain groups lead to different rheological characteristics, such as shear thinning, temperature or salt resistance, and viscoelasticity. In petroleum production applications, sphingans, and their structurally modified derivatives can replace partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in high-temperature and high-salt reservoirs, while also being able to replace guar gum as a fracturing fluid thickener. This paper focuses on the applications of sphingans and their derivatives in EOR.

Deciphering the underlying core microorganisms and the marker compounds of Liupao tea during the pile‐fermentation process

“…Sphingomonas belongs to the α ‐4 subphylum of Proteobacteria, catalase‐positive bacteria. It was also found in FBT 4 during the fermentation stage and can produce a yellow pigment and sphingan (an extracellular carbohydrate polymer) 17 . Sphingomonas echinoides have been isolated from LBT pile fermentation and can produce exoglucanase, endoglucanase, and xylanase.…”

“…It was also found in FBT 4 during the fermentation stage and can produce a yellow pigment and sphingan (an extracellular carbohydrate polymer). 17 Sphingomonas echinoides have been isolated from LBT pile fermentation and can produce exoglucanase, endoglucanase, and xylanase. Therefore, it can break down the cellulose and hemicellulose constituents to generate sugars.…”

Changes in Microbial Community Structure in Response to Gummosis in Peach Tree Bark

“…Contrary to our assumptions, the microbial community in the bark of trees with gum disease was verified to contain far more microorganisms conducive to plant growth than pathogenic microbes. In addition, the majority of these microorganisms produce polysaccharides [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], which are one of the primary constituents of the gum that peach trees generate to defend themselves against insect pests and plant pathogens [ 47 ]. A previous study by Aitana Ares et al [ 48 ] showed that 1174 - 901 - 12 (Rhizobiales), Sphingomonas , Methylobacterium - Methylorubrum , and Pseudomonas are commonly increased in plants infected with Pseudomonas syringae pv.…”

Polyhydroxyalkanoates and exopolysaccharides: An alternative for valuation of the co‐production of microbial biopolymers

“…Wu et al 24 Sphingomonas paucimobilis Ji et al 48 Alcaligenes sp. Huang et al 49 Levan (Non-ionic) Formed by fructosyl residues joined by β-2,6 or β-2,1 linkages (with majority of β-2,6 linkages in their backbone).…”