Modification of lignin structure caused by fungi - BV FAPESP
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Modification of lignin structure caused by fungi

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Author(s):
Djanira Rodrigues Negrão
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Doctoral Thesis
Press: Piracicaba.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/STB)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Regina Teresa Rosim Monteiro; Sandra Helena da Cruz; Mario de Oliveira Neto; Cláudio Angeli Sansígolo
Advisor: Regina Teresa Rosim Monteiro
Abstract

Black liquor which the bulk content is lignin, is the main product generated after obtaining cellulose pulp. This natural polymer is characterized by high molecular weight (MW) and aromatic compounds. Physical-chemical processes can be employed to fragment lignin and to produce aromatic compounds to replace those from non-renewable sources such as petroleum. Biodegradation of lignin can provide low molecular weight compounds, such as phenols and antioxidants, which may be employed in various industrial processes. The aim of this work was to investigate the structural modification of lignin caused by basidiomycetes fungi, obtained from native forest and Eucalyptus fields. The biodegradation assay was done with10 fungi species cultivated with two concentrations of black licor (10% and 15%, v/v). The assay with 10% liquor, 10 species of basidiomycete fungi were used, and in the assay with 15% liquor, it was used only Pycnoporus sanguineus. The analyses carried out to determine the structural modification of lignin were: infrared spectroscopy (FTIR/ATR), liquid chromatography gel filtration and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). P. sanguineus and fungi of Trametes genera had high capacity to consume the lignin content in the 10% liquor, after 14 days of cultivation. After that, P. sanguineus was selected for assays of ligninolytic enzymes activities in the two liquor concentrations. High activities of manganese peroxidase (MnP), laccase and peroxidase were detected in the 10% liquor, whereas in the concentration of 15% only high MnP activity was detected. Biochemical Oxygen Demand, analysis (BOD) indicated that the biodegraded liquor had high BOD load, and it was toxic to Daphia magna and Hydra attenuata. Metabolites produced by the fungi in the liquor 10% were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which indicated mainly the production of sugars and alcohols in concentrations not far from their respective controls. Although the fungus is able to decrease molecular weight of lignin, its fragments derivatives can undergo condensation or repolymerization reactions, contributing, eventually, to increase its molecular weight (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/15747-4 - Degradation of black liquor by basidiomycetes fungi from native forest
Grantee:Djanira Rodrigues Negrão
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate