A proteinous bioflocculant produced by corynebacterium sp. K-199

About 600 microorganisms isolated from soil, marsh, compost, etc. were examined for their flocculating ability in the kaolin suspension and swine wastewater. Among them, K-199 was the best producer of flocculant and was identified to be a species belong to the genus Corynebacterium. The maximum production of the flocculant from Corynebacterium sp. K-199 was observed in culture medium containing 2% glycerol, 0.4% peptone, 0.3% K₂HPO₄, 0.1% CaCO₃, 0.05% NaCl, 0.1% yeast extract, 0.1% MgSO₄·7H₂O and initial pH 7.5 when cultured with rotary shaker controlled at 25°C and 150 rpm. Under the optimal culture condition with jar fermentor, the maximum production was reached to flocculating activity of 780 units/m/ after 4 days. From the results of the activity be fully maintained by periodate oxidization, it suggests that the activity is due to the protein.