Abstract:The freezing, melting, enthalpy change and hydration properties of Antarctic bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPSs)solutions have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, and the possible relations between concentration, molecular weight and antifreezing activities of exopolysaccharides have also been analyzed. Experimental results showed that, during the course of freezing, only Pseudoalteromonas sp. S-15-13 EPSs (molecular weight, 6.2×104Da) at 0.25% could inhibit nucleation of ice, and depress the freezing temperature by (1.07±0.62)℃. Reduction of freezing enthalpies meant the inhibited growth of ice nuclei and reduced size of crystallites. As compared with pure water, Shewanella sp. 5-1-11-4 EPSs (molecular weight, 1.2×103Da) and Moritella sp. 2-5-10-1 EPSs (molecular weight, 30×103Da) at 0.125% could reduce freezing enthalpies by 17.15% and 29.13%, respectively. S-15-13 EPSs ranged between 0.125%-0.5% could reduce freezing enthalpies, EPSs at 0.125% could reduce freezing enthalpy by 30%, and its non\|freezing water was (0.292±0.05) g/g. During the course of freezing, all the EPSs reduced the melting temperature and melting enthalpies, thereby enhanced the ice melting and reduced the size of crystallites. As compared with pure water, EPSs of 5-1-11-4 and 2-5-10-1 at 4.0%, EPSs of S-15-13 at 0.5% reduced the melting temperatures by (270±015)℃, (2.30±0.39)℃ and (4.66±0.42)℃, respectively. The results of this study suggested that, EPSs could change the freezing properties of ambient water to defense bacteria from the harm of ice. The anti\|crystallites effect of EPSs was stronger with a higher molecular weight.