• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.46-51
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• 2008

The traditional view of the fate of lignin under anaerobic conditions is that it is recalcitrant because molecular oxygen is required for depolymerization. The presence of lignin is apparently the most important factor affecting the biodegradability of ligneous materials. The initial step in the degradation of ligneous material to smaller intermediates is catalyzed by enzymes secreted by microorganisms and is generally regarded as the rate limiting step in the microbial mineralization of organic matter. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) test, typically used to assess anaerobic biodegradability of liquid wastes with added nutrients and bacteria, have been adapted to assess initial biodegradation of ligneous material under anaerobic conditions. A method based on selective inhibition of microorganism activity, by 3% toluene, has been used to measure using the initial degradation rate of ligneous material and the accumulation of lignin-derived compounds.