“…The bacterial EPSs are usually acidic heteropolysaccharides possessing different functional groups (e.g., hydroxyl, carboxyl and phosphoric acid), which exhibit high affinity towards certain metal ions. Many physical and chemical properties of microbial EPSs have led to a wide range of field applications, e.g., adhesion, chelation of heavy metals, coagulation and flocculation, detoxification of toxic compounds, nutrient sequestration, protection against osmotic shock, stabilizers, thickeners, gelling, film-forming and water-retention capability (in detergents, textiles, adhesives, paper, paint, food and beverage industries), oil recovery, mining industry and petroleum industries [2]. A wide range of bacteria from various environmental habitats are known to produce complex and diverse EPS occurring as capsular polysaccharides (C-EPS, strongly associated with the cell surface) or as slime polysaccharides (S-EPS, loosely associated with the cell).…”