The effect of nonionic surfactants on gellan production by Sphingomonas paucimobilis was studied by the addition of 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 g/l surfactants to shake flask culture. The nonionic surfactants Tween 80, Tween 40 and Triton X-100 improved gellan production by S. paucimobilis, and the maximum yield (10.44 g/l) was obtained with Triton X-100 at 0.75 g/l compared with that of the control fermentation (8.63 g/l) without surfactant. The DO profiles associated with gellan production in a 5-l laboratory fermentor showed higher oxygen and mass transfers during fermentation with surfactant than during control fermentation without surfactant. The addition of surfactant also resulted in a polymer with high viscosity as manifested by its lower acetyl content, than that obtained by control fermentation. A central composite design (CCD) was used to determine the maximum gellan production at optimum values for three process parameters (Triton X-100 concentration, pH, and temperature) each at five levels in a laboratory fermentor. The maximum gellan yield (14.62 g/l) was obtained in a 5-l laboratory fermentor with 1.0 g/1 Triton X-100 and at pH 6.0 and temperature 29.6 degrees C. Further studies on the effects of agitation and DOT level demonstrated that the surfactants enhanced oxygen transfer resulting in higher gellan production (27.86 g/l) at higher agitation speed (1000 rpm) and 100% DOT level.