Abstract

MARSON-ASCENCIO, Poliana G.; ASCENCIO, Sérgio Donizeti  and  BAGGIO, Selma Faria Zawadzki. Isolation and partial chemical analysis of exopolysaccharides from cultivated marine diatom Coscinodiscus wailesii (Coscinodiscales, Bacillariophyta). Quím. Nova [online]. 2012, vol.35, n.8, pp. 1542-1548. ISSN 0100-4042.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422012000800010.

The marine diatom Coscinodiscus wailesii has attracted ecological interest because their blooms affect fishing areas. The aim of this work was the isolation, extraction and partial chemical characterization of soluble exopolysaccharide and bound exopolysaccharide from C. wailesii. Cultures were grown in Guillards f/2 medium under controlled conditions of temperature, aeration, photoperiod and light intensity. Percentage of carbohydrate, uronic acids, sulfates groups and cellular lipids was determined. Ion exchange chromatography of exopolysaccharides produced three fractions whose partial chemical structures were disclosed using ¹³C NMR and methylation techniques.

Keywords : Coscinodiscus wailesii; diatom; exopolysaccharides.