AUTHOR=Hou Lipeng , Ji Dandan , Dong Weifang , Yuan Lin , Zhang Fengshan , Li Yan , Zang Lihua 

TITLE=The Synergistic Action of Electro-Fenton and White-Rot Fungi in the Degradation of Lignin

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00099

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2020.00099

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>White-rot fungus is a common lignin-degrading fungus. However, compared with those of microorganisms that biodegrade lignin alone, synergistic systems of electro-Fenton processes and white-rot fungi are superior because of their high efficiency, mild conditions, and environmental friendliness. To investigate the details of lignin degradation by a synergistic system comprising electro-Fenton processes and white-rot fungi, lignin degradation was studied at different voltages with three lignin-degrading fungi (<italic>Phanerochaete chrysosporium</italic>, <italic>Lentinula edodes</italic>, and <italic>Trametes versicolor</italic>). The lignin degradation efficiency (82∼89%) of the synergistic systems at 4 V was higher than that of a control at 96 h post inoculation. Furthermore, the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> produced and phenolic lignin converted in the system can significantly enhance the efficiency of ligninolytic enzymes, so a considerably increased enzyme activity was obtained by the synergistic action of electro-Fenton processes and white-rot fungi. <sup>13</sup>C NMR spectroscopy revealed that aromatic structure units (103–162 ppm) were effectively degraded by the three fungi. This study shows that the combination of electro-Fenton processes and white-rot fungi treatment significantly improved the lignin degradation efficiency, which established a promising strategy for lignin degradation and valorization.</p>