Microbial ß-glucans: Relevance in Food Packaging and Preservation

As durable packaging films increasingly replace the standard, petroleum-based, non-degradable polymer films, further research on the techniques involved in the synthesis and scaling up of these biological polymers in packaging and preservation is in high demand.Microbial ß-glucans: Relevance in food packaging and preservation synthesizes the latest research on this topic and offers a compendium of the various facets of ß-glucans extracted from microbial sources. ß-glucans covered include Gellan Gum, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, and Curdlan.A useful guide for microbiologists and industry stakeholders, this book offers systemic approaches to the commercial synthesis of each glucan polymer, through either genetic or metabolic engineering.Finally, a discussion of impacts on human health and of the larger safety and environmental implications, as well as regulatory status of these polymers, leaves readers with a complete understanding of the current industry landscape and of imminent advancements.