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A Comparison of the Use of Phenolase and Peroxidase for the Synthesis of Model Humic Acid-type Polymers¹

ABSTRACT

Yields of HA (humic acid) and FA (fulvic acid) fractions of mushroom phenolase-catalyzed humic acid-type polymers varied considerably. The higher yields from 4 g of phenol mixture alone or with 1 g of various amino acids, glucosamine, or protein; and with 150 to 300 mg of phenolase varied from 1.5 to 2.5 g with about equal amounts in both fractions. As determined by use of ¹⁴C-labeled compounds, about 33% of the ferulic acid; 55% of catechol; 5 to 14% of glycine, lysine, and glucosamine; 50% of cysteine; and 100% of the protein present in the reaction mixtures were recovered in the ploymers. Using an adaptation of the peroxidase — H₂O₂ method for preparing model lignins the yields of humic polymers were more consistent, varied from 2.5 to 3.5 g, and about 80% of each polymer was recovered as HA. Also about 77% of the ferulic acid; 95% of catechol; 23 to 34% of glycine, lysine, and glucosamine; 63% of cysteine; and essentially all of the protein present in the reaction mixtures were recovered in the polymers. All model polymers were resistant to biodegradation in the soil. During 12 weeks 4 to 8% of benzene ring carbons and 8 to 25% of ferulic acid side group, amino acid, glucosamine, and protein carbons were evolved as CO₂.

¹ Contribution from Dep. of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of California, Riverside, Calif., and Institute für Biochemie des Bodens, Forschungs Anstalt fur Landwirtschaft, Braunschweig, Germany.

² Professor of Soil Science, Riverside, and Biochemist Braunschweig, Germany, respectively.

Received for publication December 26, 1979. Accepted for publication April 2, 1980.