ABSTRACT
In this chapter, properties, bioprocess, purification of pullulan, and industrial applications of pullulan derivatives are elaborately discussed. Microbes secrete them as metabolites during fermentation, and they have unique physical properties and chemical compositions. The chapter elaborately discusses properties, bioprocess, purification, and industrial applications of microbial pullulan. It strongly influences the gas barrier and mechanical properties, adhesiveness, and moisture retention and viscosity and dispersibility. During fermentation, the molecular mass of microbial pullulan gradually increases, reaches the maximum, and then gets eventually decreased due to the hydrolysis of synthesized pullulan either on the cell surface or in the bulk medium by the action of endoamylase A. pullulans in the later age of fermentation. The rheological properties of the fermentation medium are greatly influenced by the molecular mass of microbial pullulan. The molecular weight of the polymer also affects the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, compressive strength, elongation break, and tensile modules.
