ABSTRACT
Microbial polysaccharides are classied as (1) cellwall polysaccharides, (2) intracellular polysaccharides, and (3) EPSs. Cell-wall polysaccharides and intracellular polysaccharides are integral parts of the cell. EPSs are produced by many bacteria in response to environmental stress. EPSs produced by microorganisms are either attached to the cell surface or present as an amorphous slime in the extracellular medium (Sutherland, 1998).
