Microbial degradation of lignin:a review

Abstract:

Lignocellulosic biomass represents a crucial resource for sustainable development by replacing petroleum-based production systems. Lignin, a major component of plant cell walls, has been widely used in many industries. However, it poses a challenge to the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass due to the recalcitrance and complex structure. Therefore, decomposition or removal of lignin is the key to the utilization of other cell wall components. Lignin is naturally degraded by many different species of microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria, and the mechanisms underlying the degradation of lignin by microorganisms provide a host of possibilities to overcome the challenges of using harmful chemicals to degrade lignin biowaste in many industries. This review discussed the chemical constituents of lignin, the lignin-degrading microbial species, such as fungi and bacteria, and the mechanisms, and the lignin-degrading enzymes produced by a variety of microorganisms, especially the white-rot fungi, brown-rot fungi, and bacteria. Finally, the possible trends of research and applications of lignin biodegradation were prospected.