Production of oligocellouronates by biodegradation of oxidized cellulose

The biodegradation of beta-(1,4)-polyglucuronic acids from cellulose acetate oxidation utilizing the TEMPO/NaBr/NaOCl system was investigated using a glucuronan lyase isolated from Trichoderma strain GL2. Products of the beta-elimination mechanism catalyzed by this enzyme were then purified by size-exclusion chromatography and characterized by ESI-Q/TOF-mass spectrometry and H-1-NMR spectroscopy. The analyses prove the complete biodegradation of this category of cellulose derivates and open the way to the large-scale production of oligouronides.