Basic Research Shows Anaerobic Lignin Effects

A group of researchers at UC Santa Barbara has shown that anaerobic processes similar to those in herd animal digestive tracts can be effective in breaking down lignin structures in biomass. A key to unlocking biomass’ potential is the cost-effective breakdown of lignin that unlocks cellulose and hemicellulose sugars and compounds that can be used for a wide variety of fuel products. Research showed a naturally occurring digestive tract fungus was found to effectively break down lignin in poplar, sorghum and switchgrass samples in an oxygen-free environment. Previously, it was thought that lignin breakdown required the presence of oxygen.

Considered a breakthrough, the basic research was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Joint BioEnergy Institute and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. “This is really a paradigm shift in terms of how people think about the fate of lignin in the absence of oxygen,” says UC Santa Barbara chemical engineering and biological engineering professor Michelle O’Malley, adding that it provides insight to understanding what happens to lignin in a compost pile, anaerobic digester, or other very deep environments where no oxygen is available. “It pushes our understanding of what happens to biomass in these environments and alters our perception of what’s possible and the chemistry of what’s happening there.”