Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photochemical mineralization of synthetic lignin in lake water indicates enhanced turnover of aromatic organic matter under solar radiation

  • Published:
Biodegradation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The degradation of 14C-[ring]-labelled syntheticlignin (14C-DHP) and dissolved organic carbon(DOC) from lake water were studied simultaneously.14C-DHP was incubated in humic lake water (colour173 mg Pt l-1) for 7 d in the dark or under solarradiation. In the dark <0.4% of the introduced14C-DHP label and 4% of the indigenous DOC weremineralized, indicating that the 14C-labelledaromatic rings of DHP and the humic DOC weremicrobiologically recalcitrant. Under solar radiation(116 MJ m-2), 17–21% of the 14C-labelledcarbons in DHP and 18–23% of the indigenous DOC weremineralized in 7 d. Simultaneously the watersolubility of 14C-DHP increased. Solar radiationconverted the aromatic cores of synthetic lignin toCO2 and soluble organic photoproducts. Theresults suggest that solar radiation plays a key rolein the decomposition of natural polyaromatic matter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amador JA, Alexander M & Zika R (1989) Sequential photochemical and microbial degradation of organic molecules bound to humic acid. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55: 2843-2849

    Google Scholar 

  • Amon RMW & Benner R (1996) Bacterial utilization of different size classes of dissolved organic matter. Limnol. Oceanogr. 41: 41-51

    Google Scholar 

  • Argyropoulos DS & Sun Y (1996) Photochemically induced solid-state degradation, condensation, and rearrangement reactions in lignin model compounds and milled wood lignin. Photochem. Photobiol. 64: 510-517

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertilsson S & Tranvik LJ (1998) Photochemically produced carboxylic acids as substrates for freshwater bacterioplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 43: 885-895

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonini C, D'Auria M, D'Alessio L, Mauriello G, Tofani D, Viggiano D & Zimbardi F (1998) Singlet oxygen degradation of lignin. J. Photochem. Photobiol. A: Chem. 113: 119-124

    Google Scholar 

  • Castellan A, Vanucci C & Bouas-Laurent H (1987) Photochemical degradation of lignin through C—O bond cleavage of non phenolic benzyl aryl ether units. A study of the photochemistry of (2′,4′,6′-trimethyl-phenoxy)-3,4 dimethoxy toluene. Holzforschung 41: 231-238

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper WJ, Zika RG, Petasne RG & Fischer AM (1989) Sunlight induced photochemistry of humic substances in natural waters: major reactive species. Adv. Chem. Ser. 219: 333-362

    Google Scholar 

  • Crestini C & D'Auria M (1997) Singlet oxygen in the photodegradation of lignin models. Tetrahedron 53: 7877-7888

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson K-EL, Blanchette RA & Ander P (1990) Microbial and enzymatic degradation of wood and wood components. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 232 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Faix O, Mozuch MD & Kirk TK (1985) Degradation of gymnosperm (guaiacyl) vs. angiosperm (syringyl/guaiacyl) lignins by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Holzforschung 39: 203-208

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao H & Zepp RG (1998) Factors influencing photoreactions of dissolved organic matter in a coastal river of the Southeastern United States. Environ. Sci. Technol. 32: 2940-2946

    Google Scholar 

  • Gold MH, Kutsuki H & Morgan MA (1983) Oxidative degradation of lignin by photochemical and chemical radical generating systems. Photochem. Photobiol. 38: 647-651

    Google Scholar 

  • Granéli W, Lindell M & Tranvik L (1996) Photo-oxidative production of dissolved inorganic carbon in lakes of different humic content. Limnol. Oceanogr. 41: 698-706

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedges JI (1992) Global biogeochemical cycles: Progress and problems. Mar. Chem. 39: 67-93

    Google Scholar 

  • Heitner C & Scaiano JC eds. (1993) Photochemistry of lignocellulosic materials. ACS symposium series 531, American Chemical Society, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofrichter M, Vares K, Scheibner K, Galkin S, Sipilä J & Hatakka A (1999) Mineralization and solubilization of synthetic lignin by manganese peroxidases from Nematoloma frowardii and Phlebia radiata. J. Biotechnol. 67: 217-228

    Google Scholar 

  • Keskitalo J, Salonen K & Holopainen A-L (1998) Long-term fluctuations in environmental conditions, plankton and macrophytes in a humic lake, Valkea-Kotinen. Boreal Environ. Res. 3: 251-262

    Google Scholar 

  • Kieber RJ, Zhou X & Mopper K (1990) Formation of carbonyl compounds from UV-induced photodegradation of humic substances in natural waters: Fate of riverine carbon in the sea. Limnol. Oceanogr. 35: 1503-1515

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirk TK & Farrell RL (1987) Enzymatic “combustion”: the microbial degradation of lignin. Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 41: 465-505

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulovaara M, Corin N, Backlund P & Tervo J (1996) Impact of UV254-radiation on aquatic humic substances. Chemosphere. 33: 783-790

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller WL & Moran MA (1997) Interaction of photochemical and microbial processes in the degradation of refractory dissolved organic matter from a coastal marine environment. Limnol. Oceanogr. 42: 1317-1324

    Google Scholar 

  • Mopper K & Zhou X (1990) Hydroxyl radical photoproduction in the sea and its potential impact on marine processes. Science 250: 661-664

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran MA & Zepp RG (1997) Role of photoreactions in the formation of biologically labile compounds from dissolved organic matter. Limnol. Oceanogr. 42: 1307-1316

    Google Scholar 

  • Münster U, Heikkinen E, Salonen K & De Haan H (1998) Tracing of peroxidase activity in humic lake water. Acta Hydrochim. Hydrobiol. 26: 158-166

    Google Scholar 

  • Opsahl S & Benner R (1993) Decomposition of senescent blades of the seagrass Halodule wrightii in a subtropical lagoon. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 94: 191-205

    Google Scholar 

  • Opsahl S & Benner R (1998) Photochemical reactivity of dissolved lignin in river and ocean waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 43: 1297-1304

    Google Scholar 

  • Salonen K (1981) Rapid and precise determination of total inorganic carbon and some gases by high temperature combustion. Wat. Res. 15: 403-406

    Google Scholar 

  • Salonen K & Hammar T (1986) On the importance of dissolved organic matter in the nutrition of zooplankton in some lake waters. Oecologia (Berl) 8: 246-353

    Google Scholar 

  • Salonen K & Vähätalo A (1994) Photochemical mineralisation of dissolved organic matter in Lake Skervatjern. Environ. Internat. 20: 307-312

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y-P, Nguyen KL & Wallis AFA (1998) Ring-opened products from reaction of lignin model compounds with UV-assisted peroxide. Holzforschung 52: 61-66

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurman EM (1985) Organic geochemistry of natural waters. Dr. W Junk, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tulonen T, Salonen K & Arvola L (1992) Effects of different molecular weight fractions of dissolved organic matter on the growth of bacteria, algae and protozoa from a highly humic lake. Hydrobiologia 229: 239-252

    Google Scholar 

  • Vares T & Hatakka A (1997) Lignin-degrading activity and ligninolytic enzymes of different white-rot fungi: effects of manganese and malonate. Can. J. Bot. 75: 61-71

    Google Scholar 

  • Vähätalo A, Søndergaard M, Schlüter L & Markager S (1998) The impact of solar radiation on the decomposition of detrital leaves of eelgrass (Zostera marina). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 170: 107-117

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel RG (1992) Gradient-dominated ecosystems: sources and regulatory functions of dissolved organic matter in freshwater ecosystems. Hydrobiologia 229: 181-198

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel RG, Hatcher PG & Bianchi TS (1995) Natural photolysis by ultraviolet irradiance of recalcitrant dissolved organic matter to simple substrates for rapid bacterial metabolism. Limnol. Oceanogr. 40: 1369-1380

    Google Scholar 

  • Zafiriou OC, Joussot-Dubien J, Zepp RG & Zika RG (1984) Photochemistry of natural waters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 18: 358-31

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, FIN-16900, Lammi, Finland

    Anssi V. Vähätalo & Kalevi Salonen

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, Viikki Biocenter, University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 56, FIN-00014, Finland

    Anssi V. Vähätalo, Anssi V. Vähätalo, Mirja Salkinoja-Salonen & Annele Hatakka

  3. Section of Hydrobiology and Limnology, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FIN-40351, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Kalevi Salonen

Authors
  1. Anssi V. Vähätalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kalevi Salonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mirja Salkinoja-Salonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Annele Hatakka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vähätalo, A.V., Salonen, K., Salkinoja-Salonen, M. et al. Photochemical mineralization of synthetic lignin in lake water indicates enhanced turnover of aromatic organic matter under solar radiation. Biodegradation 10, 415–420 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008322520299

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008322520299

Search

Navigation