The early oxidative biodegradation steps of residual kraft lignin models with laccase.

A number of model compounds resembling the fundamental bonding patterns of residual kraft lignin, including a series of stilbenes, were incubated with laccase from Trametes versicolor in the presence and absence of delignification 'mediators' ABTS and HBT. The condensed kraft lignin model compounds seem to undergo initial degradation by laccase mainly via benzylic oxidation, demethylation and hydroxylation reactions. Phenolic 5-5', diphenylmethane and alpha-5 lignin models were found to be degraded mainly via side-chain oxidation reactions. Among the models studied, a phenolic stilbene was found to be the most reactive, yielding several products showing side-chain oxidation/transposition, demethoxylation and hydroxylation reactions. Non-phenolic 5-5', diphenylmethane and stilbene model compounds were found unreactive even in the presence of the laccase-mediator system.