Synthesis of Phenols and Phenolic Polymers by Hendersonula toruloidea in Relation to Humic Acid Formation

Martin, J. P.; Haider, K.; Wolf, D.

Synthesis of Phenols and Phenolic Polymers by Hendersonula toruloidea in Relation to Humic Acid Formation

1972

Martin, J. P. | Haider, K. | Wolf, D.

Hendersonula toruloidea in glucose or organic residue media produced high yields of a humic acid-type polymer. As much as one third of the substances, including biomass synthesized by the fungus, consisted of the polymer. The primary phenolic constituents of the polymer are orcinol, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and probably 2,3,5-trihydroxytoluene with smaller amounts of 2,6-dihydroxytoluene, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, 6-methylsalicylic acid, methylphloroglucinol, salicylic acid, 2,4-dihydroxytoluene, and several other phenols. Phenols derived from p-hydroxycinnamic acid were not found. A phenoloxidase was found in mature cells which rapidly oxidized mixtures of the phenols with the formation of polymers. The polymer is highly resistant to microbial degradation in soil and is similar to soil and other fungus humic acids with respect to elemental composition, exchange capacity, and total acidity. The fungus transforms or utilizes numerous phenols as carbon and energy sources.

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