Rapid degradation of ferulic acid via 4-vinylguaiacol and vanillin by a newly isolated strain of Bacillus coagulans

A new strain Bacillus coagulans BK07 was isolated from decomposed wood-bark , based on its ability to grow on ferulic acid as a sole carbon source. Thi s strain rapidly decarboxylated ferulic acid to 4-vinylguaiacol, which was immediately converted to vanillin and then oxidized to vanillic acid. Vanil lic acid was further demethylated to protocatechuic acid. Above 95% substra te degradation was obtained within 7 h of growth on ferulic acid medium, wh ich is the shortest period of time reported to date. The major degradation products, was isolated and identified by thin-layer chromatography, high pe rformance liquid chromatography and H-1-nuclear magnetic resonance spectros copy were 4-vinylguaiacol, vanillin, vanillic acid and protocatechuic acid. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.