Abstract

CELLULASE PRODUCTION FOR BIOFUEL DEVELOPMENT: RECENT STATE OF THE ART AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES: A REVIEW

Bharti* and Madhulika Chauhan

Abstract

As the demand of energy is increasing day-by-day, this has led to the development of biofuels from crop residue lignocelluloses. These biofuels are renewable, biodegradable, and cost-effective. Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) comprises cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. LCB is pretreated to improve cellulase accessibility to cellulose, thereby, to obtain fermentable sugars that serve as building blocks for various industrial products. Cellulases are used to hydrolyze LCB and are being produced by growing microorganisms over cellulosic matters. Cellulases can be obtained by using cheap agro-wastes and cellulose as the substrates. This enzyme can be produced by cellulolytic bacteria and fungi. As it is applied in various unique industrial applications, thus considered as a major group of industrial enzymes. Hence the success of any projected biorefinery process depends on the economics of hydrolytic enzyme production. In the present review article, discussion has been attempted on “cellulase production” using potential bacterial and fungal strains with different types of carbon sources.

Keywords: Lignocellulosic biomass; Cellulase; Bacteria; Fungi; Fermentable sugars; Biofuel.