Abstract
The aim of this research was to study the influence of lignin content
and composting temperature on the biodegradation of lignin-containing pulp
and paper products in a controlled composting test (European standard prEN
14046). Lignin reduced the biodegradation of the samples, and there was a
linear correlation between the lignin content and the biodegradation of pulp
and paper products at 58°C. The influence of incubation temperature (35, 50
and 58°C) on biodegradation was studied using bleached kraft paper containing
0.2 wt% lignin and mechanical pulp (stone-ground wood) containing 24-27 wt%
lignin. Mechanical pulp biodegraded better at lower temperatures, while
kraft paper biodegraded well at all three temperatures. Microbial activity
was evaluated by measuring CO2 evolution and the change in ATP content, and
fungal biomass by measuring the ergosterol content during the composting
experiments. Kraft paper strongly increased microbial activity during the
controlled composting test, but the activity returned to the background
level at the end of the composting test. The proportion of sample carbon
converted to microbial biomass carbon was considerably higher at lower
incubation temperatures. Changes in microbial community structure during
biodegradation of mechanical pulp and kraft paper at 50°C were studied by the
PCR-based technique denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Changes in the
microbial community were observed during the intensive degradation phase of
kraft paper.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 591-598 |
Journal | Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology |
Volume | 59 |
Issue number | 4-5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- lignin
- biodegradation
- pulp
- paper
- paper quality