Bacterial-Mediated Depolymerization and
Degradation of Lignin
4
Madan Kumar, Raj Morya, Asmita Gupta, Vivek Kumar,
and I. S. Thakur
Abstract
Today, more than two-thirds of global energy supplies come from fossil fuels.
However, dwindling reserve of fossil fuels, precarious global oil market, energy
geopolitics, and associated environmental impacts due to fossil fuel burning have
compelled almost all the nations of the world to search for clean and renewable
alternatives for energy, fuel, and chemicals. Among the renewable energy
resources, biomass has been projected as a promising source of future alternative
to substitute crude oil-based petro-refinery. Lignin degradation and its conversion
into fuel and chemicals is a major unresolved problem in a lignocellulosic
biorefinery. Lignin valorization is in nascent stage despite being a high priority
in second-generation biofuel programs. Lignin valorization can be done by
physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological routes. This chapter focuses
on biological route for bacterial-mediated lignin depolymerization and degradation. The importance of lignin utilization, its synthesis, major sources of its
generation, and its structure is discussed. Bacterial strains, enzymes, and
pathways involved in lignin degradation have also been elucidated. Furthermore,
the role of genomics and proteomics in bacterial lignin degradation has also been
discussed.
M. Kumar (*)
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi,
India
R. Morya · A. Gupta · I. S. Thakur
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
V. Kumar
Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi,
India
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
A. Singh et al. (eds.), Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7493-1_4
83
Degradation of Lignin
4
Madan Kumar, Raj Morya, Asmita Gupta, Vivek Kumar,
and I. S. Thakur
Abstract
Today, more than two-thirds of global energy supplies come from fossil fuels.
However, dwindling reserve of fossil fuels, precarious global oil market, energy
geopolitics, and associated environmental impacts due to fossil fuel burning have
compelled almost all the nations of the world to search for clean and renewable
alternatives for energy, fuel, and chemicals. Among the renewable energy
resources, biomass has been projected as a promising source of future alternative
to substitute crude oil-based petro-refinery. Lignin degradation and its conversion
into fuel and chemicals is a major unresolved problem in a lignocellulosic
biorefinery. Lignin valorization is in nascent stage despite being a high priority
in second-generation biofuel programs. Lignin valorization can be done by
physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological routes. This chapter focuses
on biological route for bacterial-mediated lignin depolymerization and degradation. The importance of lignin utilization, its synthesis, major sources of its
generation, and its structure is discussed. Bacterial strains, enzymes, and
pathways involved in lignin degradation have also been elucidated. Furthermore,
the role of genomics and proteomics in bacterial lignin degradation has also been
discussed.
M. Kumar (*)
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi,
India
R. Morya · A. Gupta · I. S. Thakur
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
V. Kumar
Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi,
India
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
A. Singh et al. (eds.), Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7493-1_4
83