Anaerobic biodegradation of the lignin and polysaccharide components of lignocellulose and synthetic lignin by sediment microflora

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6270220

Benner, R; Maccubbin, A E; Hodson, R E

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), Vol. 47:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
LIGNIN
BIODEGRADATION
POLYSACCHARIDES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BIOMASS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
GRASS
HERBS
INCUBATION
MARSHES
METHANE
PLANTS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SEDIMENTS
SWAMPS
ALKANES
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
WETLANDS
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)