Aromatic chemicals through anaerobic microbial conversion of lignin monomers

  • J.-P. Kaiser
  • K. W. Hanselmann
Chapter
Part of the EXS 43: Experientia Supplementum book series (EXS, volume 43)

Summary

Large efforts are directed towards production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass in order to reduce our dependence on petroleum based ethylene. No satisfactory process exists to date, however, which would make the aromatic molecules present in wood available to economic exploitation. A combination of physico-chemical pretreatment of lignocellulose and selective microbial conversion of the mixture of aromatic monomers into a few phenolic products is outlined. Anaerobic microbial communities are employed since they offer thermodynamic and physiological characteristics necessary for efficient conversion. Under anaerobic conditions most of the carbon and energy initially present in the substrate can be recovered as useful products; oxidative losses as CO2 and H2O are minimized. The 3,4-disubstituted aromatic lignin monomers are converted to catechol while 3,4,5-trisubstituted monomers are mineralized to CH4 and CO2. Further studies are directed towards an understanding of the physiological functions of the populations participating in the conversion process, the reason for catechol recalcitrance and the tolerance of the community towards phenolic endproducts.

Keywords

Vanillic Acid Adipic Acid Protocatechuic Acid Syringic Acid Clostridium Acetobutylicum 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Basel AG 1982

Authors and Affiliations

  • J.-P. Kaiser
    • 1
  • K. W. Hanselmann
    • 1
  1. 1.Institute of Plant BiologyUniversity of ZürichZürichSwitzerland

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