Enzymatic depolymerization of low-rank coal (lignite)

摘要

Ligninolytic basidiomycetes (wood and litter decaying fungi) have the ability to degrade low-rank coal (lignite). Extracellular manganese peroxidase (MnP) is the decisive enzyme in the depolymerization process both of coal derived humic substances and native coal. The depolymerization of coal occurred via Mn~(3+)-ions acting as primary mediator and can be considerably enhanced by certain thiols acting as secondary mediators. The depolymerization process leads finally to complex mixtures of fulvic acid-like compounds.