Anaerobic biodegradation of the lignin and polysaccharide components of lignocellulose and synthetic lignin by sediment microflora
Specifically radiolabeled (/sup 14/C-lignin)lignocelluloses and (/sup 14/C-polysaccharide)lignocelluloses were prepared from a variety of marine and freshwater wetland plants including a grass, a sedge, a rush, and a hardwood. These (/sup 14/C)lignocellulose preparations and synthetic (/sup 14/C)lignin were incubated anaerobically with anoxic sediments collected from a salt marsh, a freshwater marsh, and a mangrove swamp. During long-term incubations lasting up to 300 days, the lignin and polysaccharide components of the lignocelluloses were slowly degraded anaerobically to /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ and /sup 14/CH/sub 4/. Lignocelluloses derived from herbaceous plants were degraded more rapidly than lignocellulose derived from the hardwood. After 294 days, 16.9% of the lignin component and 30.0% of the polysaccharide component of lignocellulose derived from the grass used (Spartina alterniflora) were degraded to gaseous end products. In contrast, after 246 days, only 1.5% of the lignin component and 4.1% of the polysaccharide component of lignocellulose derived from the hardwood used (Rhizophora mangle) were degraded to gaseous end products. Synthetic (/sup 14/C) lignin was degraded anaerobically faster than the lignin component of the hardwood lignocellulose; after 276 days 3.7% of the synthetic lignin was degraded to gaseous end products. Contrary to previous reports, these results demonstrate that lignin and lignified plant tissues are biodegradable in the absence of oxygen. Although lignocelluloses are recalcitrant to anaerobic biodegradation, rates of degradation measured in aquatic sediments are significant and have important implications for the biospheric cycling of carbon from these abundant biopolymers. 31 references.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Georgia, Athens
- OSTI ID:
- 6270220
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 47:5; ISSN AEMID
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
090122* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOMASS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
GRASS
HERBS
HYDROCARBONS
INCUBATION
ISOTOPES
LIGNIN
MARSHES
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SACCHARIDES
SEDIMENTS
SWAMPS
SYNTHESIS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
WETLANDS