Degradation of indulin, a kraft pine lignin, by Serratia marcescens.

Serratia marcescens isolated from decaying coconut pith exhibited high lignolytic activity. Growth on indicator medium, analysis of residual indulin, and infra-red spectroscopic analysis indicated the lignolytic potential of the isolate. Ortho-Coumaric acid, ferulic acid, 2,3-dihydroxy cinnamic acid and protocatechuic acid were identified as intermediates involved in indulin degradation by S. marcescens. Qualitative confirmation and quantitative estimation of the intermediates were carried out by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC).