The production of Lignin Peroxidase from white rot fungi and its role in delignification of crop residues

Abstract

Lignocellulosic wastes are generated from paper and pulp industries, timber industries, and agricultural works. These are of concern due to the environmemtal pollutions. These lignocelluloses represent a major source of renewable organic matter and disposed off by burning. Fibrous feed is one of the diets to the ruminants in developing countries and is one of the common practice. The left overs in the field are fed to the animals after harvesting the crops. These feeds are not nutritious as they are have very low protein, minerals, vitamins and high crude fiber. The crude fiber contains high concentration of lignin which surround and protects the cellulose and hemicelluloses part from enzymatic hydrolysis. The biological method of lignin degradation has gained its importance. The white rot belonging to basidiomycetes class act on lignin through their lignolytic enzymes viz Laccases, Lignin peroxidases and Manganese peroxidases. Lignin peroxidases have received much attention in recent past as it has the capacity to oxidize highly recalcitrant environmental pollutants including both phenolic and non phenolic lignin related compounds hence, making them useful for several biotechnological applications. newlineThe current work was carried out in an attempt of meeting the demand for Lignin peroxidase enzyme which is effective in biological degradation of crop residues. The thermo and pH stable Lignin peroxidase with high relative activity has gained importance. The purification and extraction methods add information to down stream processing. Lignin peroxidase with enhanced reaction specificity with Poly Urethane Foam as immobilization matrix promises high product yield thus promising for industrial application. newline