Integrating waste management with biopolymer innovation: A new frontier in xanthan gum production

Xanthan gum, is a biopolymer with extensive applications across various industries due to its versatile rheological properties. A critical challenge in xanthan production is the high cost, primarily driven by the expense of glucose, which accounts for about 70 % of the cost of production materials as the primary carbon source. Consequently, there is a growing interest in the search for cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives. Nevertheless, xanthan produced from these alternative raw materials comes with various technical challenges. This review therefore collates the recent findings in the use of food and agro-industrial waste as alternative carbon sources, offering a novel and sustainable solution to wastes management and cost challenge. For the first time, interdisciplinary connections between waste valorization, fermentation optimization, and changes in properties are revealed, showcasing how waste substrates can influence the properties of the obtained xanthan gum compared to gum produced by classical technology. Revealed yields and thermal stability of such gums match commercial standards, while their structure and functional properties may vary, indicating the need for quality control. Also, substituting refined sugars with waste reduced raw material costs by 60–70 %. This approach addresses waste management issues and greener production strategies in the xanthan industry.