Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIX, Issue 2
Written by Alexandra BURLACU (GRIGORAȘ), Oana-Alina BOIU-SICUIA, Aglaia POPA, Florentina ISRAEL-ROMING
Kraft lignin, a prominent by-product of the paper pulping process, presents notable environmental challenges because of its complex and resistant structure. Microbial degradation of kraft lignin through ligninolytic enzymes (such as lignin peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, or laccases) offers an environmentally friendly biotechnological solution for its utilisation. This study outlines a comprehensive plate screening method aimed at identifying microorganisms capable of degrading kraft lignin. The screening process resulted in the discovery of several microbial strains that showed prominent oxidative discoloration zones, indicating ligninolytic enzyme activity. The microbial strain with the highest ligninolytic activity was determined to be Hericium erinaceus. Cultivating this mushroom on liquid medium with kraft lignin as a substrate provided an insight on the activities of the main oxidative enzymes produced, such as: lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase. These findings highlight that this screening method is an effective step in identifying microorganisms suitable for kraft lignin valorisation in biotechnological applications.
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