Utilisation of lignocellulosic wastes for lignin peroxidase production by semi-solid-state cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium

In the present work, the production of ligninolytic enzymes by semi-solid-state cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767 (ATCC 24725), employing different lignocellulosic wastes as support, was investigated. The waste materials employed were grape seeds, wheat straw and wood shavings. Maximum lignin peroxidase activities of 1620 +/- 123 U/l, 364 +/- 35 U/l and 571 +/- 42 U/l were attained, respectively. Nevertheless, low manganese-dependent peroxidase activities were found, being insignificant in the grape seed cultures. Moreover, the in vivo decolourisation of a model dye compound, the polymeric dye Poly R-478 (polyvinylamine sulfonate anthrapyridone), by the above-mentioned cultures was monitored to assess the degrading capability of the extracellular liquid secreted by such cultures. The percentage of biological decolourisation attained by grape seed and wood shaving cultures was around 74% and 63%, respectively, whereas it was rather low (40%) in the wheat straw ones.