Low frequency ultrasound was used to depolymerize a high-molecular-weight exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by a deep-sea hydrothermal bacterium Alteromonas macleodii subsp. fijiensis biovar deepsane. The influence of several parameters was examined including the duration of ultrasonic irradiation, EPS concentration. reaction temperature and volume of the sonicated solution. With the aim of optimizing the depolyrnerization, the native EPS was simultaneously treated with hydrogen peroxide and ultrasound. This study identified the sonication conditions that produce low-molecular-weight derivatives from the native EPS (>10(6) Da) with good reproducibility. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.