Second generation bioethanol: Advancement of ethanologenic microorganisms toward industrial production

Abstract

Bioethanol, as a clean and renewable fuel with its major environmental benefits, represents a promising biofuel today which has the potential to provide a sustainable replacement for traditional oil-based fuels. In order to minimize the competition between fuels and food production, researchers are focusing their efforts on the utilization of wastes and by-products as raw materials for the production of ethanol. Food waste and lignocellulosic biomass are being produced in great quantities in any campus cafeteria and their handling can be a challenge. They contain significant amounts of sugars (both soluble and insoluble) and they can be used as raw material for the production of ethanol. The review highlighted a specific part in the production chain of refining lignocellulosic biomass, production of sugar from lignocellulosic biomass during enzymatic hydrolysis and the fermentation of the produced sugars to bioethanol. The study also covered ametabolism of ethanologenic microorganism focusing on glucose and xylose catabolism.