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Isolation and characterization of a fungus Aspergillus sp. strain F-3 capable of degrading alkali lignin

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Abstract

A fungus strain F-3 was selected from fungal strains isolated from forest soil in Dalian of China. It was identified as one Aspergillus sp. stain F-3 with its morphologic, cultural characteristics and high homology to the genus of rDNA sequence. The budges or thickened node-like structures are peculiar structures of hyphae of the strain. The fungus degraded 65% of alkali lignin (2,000 mg l−1) after day 8 of incubation at 30°C at pH 7. The removal of colority was up to 100% at 8 days. The biodegradation of lignin by Aspergillus sp. F-3 favored initial pH 7.0. Excess acid or alkali conditions were not propitious to lignin decomposing. Addition of ammonium l-tartrate or glucose delayed or repressed biodegradation activities. During lignin degradation, manganese peroxidase (28.2 U l−1) and laccase (3.5 U l−1)activities were detected after day 7 of incubation. GC-MS analysis of biodegraded products showed strain F-3 could convert alkali lignin into small molecules or other utilizable products. Strain F-3 may co-culture with white rot fungus and decompose alkali lignin effectively.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Key Scientific and Technology Project for Water Pollution Treatment (2008 ZX07208-004-2); Projects (IRT0813) supported by Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Biological Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

    Y. S. Yang, J. T. Zhou, H. Lu & L. H. Zhao

  2. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Dalian University, Dalian, 116622, China

    Y. S. Yang & Y. L. Yuan

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  1. Y. S. Yang
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  2. J. T. Zhou
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  3. H. Lu
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  4. Y. L. Yuan
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  5. L. H. Zhao
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Correspondence to Y. S. Yang.

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Yang, Y.S., Zhou, J.T., Lu, H. et al. Isolation and characterization of a fungus Aspergillus sp. strain F-3 capable of degrading alkali lignin. Biodegradation 22, 1017–1027 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-011-9460-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-011-9460-6

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