Tow lignin-degrading bacterial strains (LD-1,LD-2) were isolated from pulp paper mill effluent sludge.LD-1 and LD-2 were morphologically characterised as Gram negative small rod and Gram positive rod respectively.Further,16S rRNA sequencing showed 99%base sequence homology to Sphingobacterium and Bacillus,and the two strains were finally designated as Sphingobacterium sp.LD-1 and Bacillus sp.LD-2 respectively.LD-1 and LD-2 showed potential of lignin degradation by using plate culture medium with Azure-B.Moreover,the lignin degradation by these two bacterial strains reached approximately 50%within 7 days,which showed high activity of lignin degradation.