THE BIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION OF LIGNIN III

Abstract

Alpha-Conidendrin is a lignin-related compound which has been isolated from wood and waste sulfite liquor. Its similarity to lignin rests in the fact that it is composed of 2 quaiacyl propane units. A species of the bacterial genus Flavobacterium has been isolated by an enrichment technic from river mud which is capable of growth in a medium with alpha-conidendrin as the sole C source. Analytical procedures and quantitative data are presented which show that the bacterium is able to degrade alpha-conidendrin to the extent that from an original 200 mg. only 4 mg. remained at the end of 22 days'' incubation. End products of this degradation are under in-vestigation.