Commercial Application of Lignocellulose-Degrading Enzymes in a Biorefinery

Abstract

Enzymes play a significant role in several biotechnology-based industries for making the process cost effective. These enzymes are predominantly obtained from microbes (bacteria, fungi, and microalgae), plants and animals for serving intended applications. Recently, biofuels are advocated as clean and green, alternative source of energy to meet the growing demand of fossil fuels. However, biofuel production is not commercially scalable since lignocellulose biomass (LCB)-converting enzymes/processes are not cost effective. Several commercial enzymes including cellulase, xylanase, laminarinase and other ligninolytic enzymes are used to implement a synergistic action in the breakdown of LCB structure into pentose or hexose sugars, and other co-products. Enzyme dosage optimisation during the biomass processing and co-product production are considered amongst the major challenges in this biorefinery pathway. This chapter covers application of commercial enzyme preparations in LCB processing, and factors affecting co-product production in a biorefinery set-up to address processing challenges.