Degradation of pine kraft lignin by Coriolopsis gallica growing on a fibre-glass support

Abstract

Coriolopsis gallica was grown in static liquid cultures on an inert support consisting of fibre-glass impregnated with Indulin AT (pine kraft lignin). The fungus developed well in such conditions enabling the study with the SEM of the morphology and penetration of the fungus. The method also pemits the recovery of degraded lignin, the characteristics of which was monitored by direct analysis of its elementary composition, methoxyls groups, and by spectroscopic techniques and gel permeation. Degraded lignin differed from sound lignin by its higher percentages of oxygen, and lower percentages of C, H, and OCH3 was richer in oxygen. The IR and vis-UV spectra as well as the fractionation by gel filtration showed that the structure of the lignin incubated in the presence of the fungus had been modified.