Lignocellulosic Biomass Utilization Toward Biorefinery Using Meshophilic Clostridial Species

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass such as agricultural, industrial, and forestry residues as well as dedicated crops constitute renewable and abundant resources with great potential for a lowcost and uniquely sustainable bioconversion to value-added bioproducts. Thus, many organic fuels and chemicals that can be obtained from lignocellulosic biomass can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, improve the economy, dispose of problematic solid wastes, and improve air quality. In particular, liquid biofuels are attractive candidates, since little or no change is needed to the current petroleum-based fuel technologies. However, the biorefining process remains economically unfeasible due to a lack of biocatalysts that can overcome costly hurdles such as cooling from high temperature, pumping of oxygen/stirring, and, neutralization from acidic or basic pH. Therefore, bioconversion of the lignocellulosic components into fermentable sugars is an essential step in the biorefinery.