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Phenolic Compounds in Plants: Implications for Bioenergy

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Advances of Basic Science for Second Generation Bioethanol from Sugarcane

Abstract

Lignin is a copolymer of three main hydroxycinnamyl alcohols identified as p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and syringyl (S) units. The highly condensed matrix (core lignin) may also be associated with low-molecular phenolics as hydroxycinnamic acids mainly p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, and sinapic acids dubbed noncore lignins. Lignin confers hydrophobicity and mechanical and chemical strength for tissues, providing a barrier against the attack of pathogens and herbivores. The content and composition of lignin are strongly affected by biotic and abiotic stresses. Besides core and noncore lignin, free phenolic compounds perform a relevant activity in response to plant stresses. The toxicity of allelochemicals is partially due to their ability to bind and inhibit enzyme activities. The presence of lignin imposes a physical barrier to the action of enzymes in saccharification of plant cell wall polysaccharides to the production of cellulosic ethanol. The presence of endogenous phenolic compounds as well as treatments to degrade lignin, in turn, release phenolic compounds that adsorb and inhibit cellulases, xylanases, and accessory enzymes. This chapter provides basic information on phenolic compounds of interest to support the sustainable use of alga and plant biomasses as raw materials for the production of biofuels discussing the main approaches ongoing to reduce their negative impact in biomass saccharification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, State University of Maringá, Av. Colombo, Maringá, 87020-900, Paraná, Brazil

    Dyoni Matias de Oliveira, Denis Leandro de Freitas, Gabriela Ellen Barreto, Rogério Barbosa de Lima, Anderson Ricardo Soares, Osvaldo Ferrarese-Filho, Rogério Marchiosi & Wanderley Dantas dos Santos

  2. Department of Biology, Campus of Paranavai, Parana Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, Paraná, Brazil

    Aline Finger-Teixeira

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  1. Dyoni Matias de Oliveira
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  2. Aline Finger-Teixeira
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  3. Denis Leandro de Freitas
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  4. Gabriela Ellen Barreto
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  5. Rogério Barbosa de Lima
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  6. Anderson Ricardo Soares
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  7. Osvaldo Ferrarese-Filho
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  8. Rogério Marchiosi
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  9. Wanderley Dantas dos Santos
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Correspondence to Wanderley Dantas dos Santos .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Laboratory of Plant Physiological Ecology (LAFIECO), Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marcos S. Buckeridge

  2. Department of Botany, Laboratory of Plant Physiological Ecology (LAFIECO), Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Amanda P. De Souza

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de Oliveira, D.M. et al. (2017). Phenolic Compounds in Plants: Implications for Bioenergy. In: Buckeridge, M., De Souza, A. (eds) Advances of Basic Science for Second Generation Bioethanol from Sugarcane. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49826-3_4

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