Lignocellulosic Sources Research Articles

Potential of carbon micro/nanofibers derived from lignocellulose biomass valorisation for CO2 adsorption: A review on decarbonization biotechnology for climate change solutions.

Biomass, as a source of lignocellulose, can be valorized into carbon micro/nanofibers for adsorbing greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions, especially CO2. This article is derived from systematic evidence evaluation of published studies, presenting new, innovative, and systemic approaches to lignocellulose-based carbon micro/nanofiber studies. The review covers a general overview of carbon micro/nanofiber studies, mapping chronicles of the studies, carbon micro/nanofiber types for CO2 uptake, carbon micro/nanofibers fabrication and characterization, obtained carbonaceous material activation and performances, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability. The published studies show that carbon fiber has been researched for GHG emissions adsorption since the 1950s, with an increasing trend of publication numbers. The trend of studies has commenced from activated carbon to nanocarbonaceous materials and their composites. The excellent performance of both micro/nano-sized carbon provides promising opportunities for absorbing CO2 and other GHGs, such as NO2 and CH4, facilitating decarbonization. Several types of carbonaceous activation processes and modifications were utilized to enhance the performances of the resultant biochars, especially in surface materials, CO2 adsorption capacity, and CO2 selectivity. Proposed mechanisms for the absorption of CO2 by activated carbonaceous materials through physisorption and chemisorption were also observed. To date, regulatory frameworks on the use of activated carbon for CO2 capture are still rarely found, but biochar has been mainstreamed and regulated internationally for CO2 removal. Other regulations have been enacted but have not yet internationally harmonized, mostly focusing on the terminology of carbon nanotubes, characterization, general applications, labelling, packaging, transportation, and the effects of toxicity on health. This study also proposed the sustainability aspects and performance indicators that can be used for circular economy application with an ultimate goal of climate change mitigation through GHG reduction. Besides the regulatory framework, elements of the business model and sustainability were proposed in the circular economy framework of the fibers. By scoping carbon micro/nanofibers studies, it is shown with obvious evidence that carbon micro/nanofibers and their composites have the potential for CO2 adsorption and removal, leading to the acceleration of the decarbonization process that is in line with the Paris Agreement, especially in applying innovative CO2 capture, storage, and utilization (CCSU) technologies.

Characterization, Compositional and Thermogravimetric Analyses of Lignocellulosic Fibers of Syzygium Cumini (L.) Leaf Litter: Investigating the Potential for Biofuel Production

The quest for greener and more sustainable energy sources has led to the consideration of lignocellulosic materials as possible candidates for this purpose. The present study investigated the potential of Syzygium cumini leaf litter as a lignocellulose source for biofuel production. The study involved comprehensive characterization (compositional, proximate, thermogravimetric, and Fourier Transform Infrared analyses) of raw Syzygium cumini (RSC) fibers and lignocellulose extracted from the plant, termed lignocellulose Syzygium cumini (LSC). RSC fibers were composed of lignocellulosic, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents of 60%, 50.52%, 31.53%, and 17.95%, respectively, indicating their potential for biofuel production. Nitrogen and fatty acid contents were significantly depleted after alkaline hydrolysis of RSC fibers from 0.532% to 0.196% and 2.5% to 1.0%, respectively. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses at 10 °C/min recorded a steady mass for LSC between 0 to 20 mins until it reached 250 °C indicating thermal stability. However, a 28% mass reduction was reported for RSC between the temperature range of 50 °C – 200 °C, suggesting the presence of volatile compounds, including amino acids, and oxides of nitrogen and sulfur. The FTIR spectra of RSC and LSC fibers confirmed the presence of several organic functional groups. The peaks at 1023.2 for RSC and 1026.9 for LSC indicate the presence of an alkyl amine group, cyclic alkene or OH group while the peak at 1606.5 indicates unsaturated C=C bond. The compositional variations in LSC fibers distinctively showed the presence of C=O and C–O which were not depicted in the RSC spectra. Overall, the high lignocellulose content, low nitrogen values and high decomposition of 79.25% at 466.71 °C, renders LSC fiber a viable raw material for biofuel production.

Hydroxycinnamic Acid Extraction from Multiple Lignocellulosic Sources: Correlations with Substrate Composition and Taxonomy for Flavoring and Antioxidant Applications.

The extraction of hydroxycinnamic acids (HCADs) is a strategy for lignocellulosic biomass valorization due to their high value-added nature and the possibility of application as flavoring and antioxidants. This study proposes correlations between the composition and taxonomy of 28 globally available agro-industrial feedstocks with the production of HCADs using chemometric tools. Principal component analysis indicated strong correlations between ferulic acid release and hemicellulose type and content, especially in grass biomasses. Conversely, p-coumaric acid release was mainly correlated with cellulose content across diverse taxonomic origins. Among the evaluated agro-industrial feedstocks, corn-based biomasses were identified as prime sources of ferulic acid after mild alkaline treatment, releasing up to 10.5 g kg-1 and producing hydrolysates with an antioxidant capacity up to 3.3 mmol Trolox equivalents g-1. Notably, sugar cane bagasse was the best source of p-coumaric acid, yielding 4.8 g kg-1. Corn hydrolysates were successfully converted into 4-vinylguaiacol using a genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, achieving high yields of 0.75 g L-1. This work enhances our understanding of HCAD sources and biomass valorization strategies, demonstrating potential applications in the food and cosmetics sectors.

Optimization through response surface modelling, experimental validation on development of nanocellulose for pharmaceutical applications

Nanocellulose, a promising polymer derived from lignocellulosic sources, is utilized in various applications such as paper production, water purification, wound dressing, scaffolds, biosensors, super-disintegrants, cosmetics, and drug delivery systems. The study investigates the production of optimized nanocellulose size using response surface methodology, examining the impact of factors like sulphuric acid concentration and temperature on the acid hydrolysis process. The central composite design was used to screen and adjust the design matrix with two-factor levels. The optimized size of nanocellulose was found to be 364.1 nm, with a zeta potential of −40.6, which shows long-term stability. Hence, process variables like sulphuric acid of 48.29% v/v and temperature of 39.7 °C were optimized to get the desired particle size from commercial cellulose. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine the primary parameters that have a significant impact on the particle size of nanocellulose. Thus, the obtained nanocellulose was characterized using FTIR, XRD, DLS and TEM analysis. FTIR confirms that the functional groups of cellulose are similar in nanocellulose. As the XRD illustrates, 67% of the crystallinity index in the developed nanocellulose is semicrystalline. The particle size was found within the nm size by employing the DLS method. Nanocellulose was characterized using TEM for surface morphology. Thus, obtained nanocellulose is widely used in various pharmaceutical applications like tissue engineering, cosmeceuticals, wound healing, scaffolds, aerogels, hydrogels, and controlled release of drugs.

Activated carbon from agricultural industry waste for use as an adsorbent of sulfamethazine: Fascinating and environmentally friendly process

Lignocellulosic wastes have garnered interest in activated carbon (AC) production owing to their abundance and cost-effectiveness. This research utilized coffee husk as a precursor for AC. The methodology involves impregnating the waste with varying proportions of phosphoric acid (H3PO4), 1:1 and 1:3 (masswaste:massH3PO4), and activation in a microwave oven, with different power and activation times. The N2 adsorption/desorption results demonstrated high surface areas (SBET) for the ACs. The optimized AC (C1:3-1000-10) was obtained using a time of 10 min, high impregnation ratio, and power, resulting in an SBET of 1200 m2 g−1. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra confirmed the presence of functional groups, such as hydroxyl and ester, on the AC surface. Adsorption tests with sulfamethazine (SMZ) showed a 225 mg g−1 remotion capacity, highlighting the waste potential for sustainable and economical AC production. This underscores the importance of optimizing activation parameters to enhance performance and application versatility in AC production from lignocellulosic sources.

Investigating the lignocellulolytic gut microbiome of huhu grubs (Prionoplus reticularis) using defined diets and dietary switch

The huhu beetle (Prionoplus reticularis) is the largest endemic beetle found throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, and is characterised by feeding on wood during its larval stage. It has been hypothesised that its gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in the degradation of wood. To explore this idea we examined the fungal and bacterial community composition of huhu grubs’ frass, using amplicon sequencing. Grubs were reared on an exclusive diet of either a predominantly cellulose source (cotton) or lignocellulose source (pine) for 4 months; subsequently a diet switch was performed and the grubs were grown for another 4 months. The fungal community of cellulose-reared huhu grubs was abundant in potential cellulose degraders, contrasting with the community of lignocellulose-reared grubs, which showed abundant potential soft rot fungi, yeasts, and hemicellulose and cellulose degraders. Cellulose-reared grubs showed a less diverse fungal community, however, diet switch from cellulose to lignocellulose resulted in a change in community composition that showed grubs were still capable of utilising this substrate. Conversely, diet seemed to have a limited influence on huhu grub gut bacterial communities.

Enhanced biobutanol production with sustainable Co-substrates synergy from paper waste and garden waste with municipal biowaste

Synergy in the co-processing of lignocellulosic wastes and municipal biowaste (MB) can unlock their potential for biobutanol production. This study assessed the potential for biobutanol production through the co-processing of lignocellulosic waste and MB. Specifically, it compared the co-processing of paper waste with MB to that of garden waste and MB. Ethanol organosolv pretreatment served as a dual-function process for both pretreatment and detoxification purposes. Initial fermentation of hydrolysates from untreated paper waste using Clostridium acetobutylicum produced 0.9 g/L of acetone and ethanol but no detectable butanol. Organosolv pretreatment led to a significant increase in acetone and ethanol production but did not yield butanol. Co-processing paper waste with MB using organosolv pretreatment resulted in the production of 2.8–3.2 g/L butanol, along with increased acetone and ethanol production. Furthermore, co-processing a 1:1 (w/w) mixture of paper waste and MB under mild and severe pretreatment conditions produced 45.5 g and 43.4 g butanol, respectively, compared to 34.8 g and 14.4 g butanol when processing these waste streams separately. The study also explored the positive impact of co-processing garden waste with MB, a distinct lignocellulosic source, enhancing acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) yield by 27–40%. These findings highlight the potential of synergistic waste co-processing for achieving a more suitable balance of nutrients to enhance biobutanol and ABE production from biowastes. Additionally, the simultaneous treatment of lignocellulosic waste and municipal biowaste offers a simplified approach to waste processing, contributing to advancements in sustainable biomass utilization and bioenergy production.

Biodegradable, UV-blocking, and antioxidant films from alkali-digested lignocellulosic residue fibers of switchgrass

The development of bio-friendly materials to replace single-use plastics is urgently needed. In this regard, cellulosic material from plants is a promising alternative. However, due to the risk of forest depletion, agricultural biomass stands out as a favorable choice. Toward this end, switchgrass, an underutilized grass, presents itself as a viable source of lignocellulose that can be turned into a bio-friendly material. Herein, lignocellulosic residue from switchgrass has been extracted using two different concentrations of NaOH (20% and 50% w/v), solubilized in aqueous ZnCl2 solution, and crosslinked with CaCl2 (200, 300, 400, and 500 mM) to prepare biodegradable films. The color, thickness and moisture, water solubility, water absorption, water vapor permeability, tensile strength and elongation, biodegradation, UV transmittance, and antioxidant activity of films have been studied. The films possess a high tensile strength of 14.7 MPa and elongation of 4.7%. They block UVB-radiation and hold antioxidant properties. They display good water vapor permeability of 1.410–1.6 × 10−11 gm−1s−1Pa−1 and lose over 80% of their weight at 30% soil moisture within 40 days. An increase in the CaCl2 amount decreased the water vapor permeability, elongation, UV transmittance, and biodegradation but increased the transparency, tensile strength and antioxidant property. Overall, films of alkali-digested lignocellulosic residue of switchgrass showed excellent potential to be used against lightweight plastics and support the circular economy.

Optimization of the bioethanol dehydration process using MgCl2 as mass separating agent

Ethanol derived from lignocellulosic sources is an important chemical that can have several uses such as biofuel that can be blended with gasoline, as sanitizer for the disinfection of surfaces, or as additive in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, its separation poses a challenge because it must be separated from water and this mixture forms an azeotrope. This research focuses on the ethanol dehydration using magnesium chloride (MgCl2) as a mass separating agent, which is an innocuous chemical used in the food industry to process Tofu. Therefore, it does not have any side effect, or it is not harmful for humans. Therefore, the use of this salt makes possible to use the purified ethanol as an additive in the food, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical industry. The proposed separation process is optimized using surrogate nonlinear models for the preconcentration and salt evaporation units. The results showed that using magnesium chloride dodecahydrate is a feasible alternative to bioethanol valorization.

Characterization of Waste Nicotiana rustica L. (Tobacco) Fiber Having a Potential in Textile and Composite Applications.

Nicotiana rustica L. (NRL) is a type of tobacco plant, and its stalk waste is a potential lignocellulosic source for obtaining cellulose fibers freely available in nature. However, they are left in fields after harvesting, and this study provides a green and sustainable method to reuse tobacco waste. Fiber was obtained by retting the plant stalks in water and decomposing them naturally in three weeks. NRL fiber was characterized by comparing it with known bast fibers, and tests were applied to examine its physical, chemical, mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties. With its high cellulose content (56.6 wt%), NRL fiber had a high tensile strength (113.4 MPa) and a good crystallinity index (70%) that helped it to bond with other fibers in the composite matrix. Furthermore, the fiber is an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fibers with a diameter of 36.88 μm and low density (1.5 g/cm3). The NRL fiber was found to have a semi-crystalline structure and large crystalline size, which makes it hydrophobic. The thermal gravimetric analysis showed that it can be durable (353.9 °C) in higher temperatures than the polymerization temperature. As a result, it can be concluded that NRL fiber has the potential to be used as a reinforcement in polymer composites, technical textiles, and agricultural applications.

Exploring of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Lignocellulosic Sources as a Powerful Adsorbent for Wastewater Remediation

Exploring of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Lignocellulosic Sources as a Powerful Adsorbent for Wastewater Remediation

Characteristic and Performance of Ni, Pt, and Pd Monometal and Ni-Pd Bimetal onto KOH Activated Carbon for Hydrotreatment of Castor Oil

The preparation of highly efficient hydrotreating catalysts has presented a significant challenge in the field of catalysis. In this study, chemically activated carbon (AC) was prepared using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an activator and Merbau wood as a lignocellulosic source for the AC. The AC was then impregnated with mono-metallic species (nickel, platinum, and palladium) as well as a bimetallic NiPd combination. The results revealed that the optimal KOH impregnation weight ratio was determined to be 2:1, resulting in a remarkably high iodine value of 751.94 mg/g. Subsequently, AC was employed as a support material for the hydrotreating of castor oil. Among the catalysts tested, the NiPd/AC catalyst demonstrated superior performance, yielding a liquid fraction comprising 88.80 wt.%. Within this fraction, C5-C12 hydrocarbons accounted for 15.16 wt.%, alcohol compounds constituted 71.69 wt.%, while the remaining 0.87 wt.% consisted of other components. Furthermore, the NiPd/AC catalyst exhibited remarkable stability, as its performance remained largely unchanged even after being used three times consecutively. This finding suggests that coking had minimal impact on the active sites of the mentioned catalyst, indicating its robustness and potential for prolonged application.

Cloning of AA9 Polysaccharide Monooxygenase gene AN3860 into pEX2B for expression in Aspergillus oryzae

Polysaccharide monooxygenases (PMOs) catalyze oxidative degradation of recalcitrant carbohydrate chains in cellulose, starch, and chitin. In biofuel industry, the conversion of rich lignocellulose source to fermentable sugars by hydrolytic cellulases can be synergistically boosted by cellulose-active PMOs (AA9 PMOs) found in a vast number of fungi that grow on biomass. Aspergillus nidulans, a filamentous fungus, possess a dozen of PMO-encoding genes, but only the AN3860 is expressed at a high level when cultured with wheat straw as the sole carbon source. Bioinformatic analysis indicates that AN3860 belongs to type 3 AA9 PMO subfamily that is capable of hydroxylating both C1 and C4 of the glycosidic linkages. Therefore, AN3860 may be a potential enzyme to improve cellulose hydrolysis efficiency, which has not been characterized. In this study, we describe the AN3860 cloning into Aspergillus oryzae AUT1-PlD. To facilitate the purification of AN3860, we added a CBM20 tag to its C-terminal. The recombinant vector was designed and constructed successfully. Simultaneously, we have obtained the clone of A. oryzae carrying the target gene by the ATMT method. Further expression optimization and characterization of AN3860 by both activity assays and spectroscopic techniques are underway.

Preparation of sulfonated carbonaceous solid acid catalysts by fuming sulfuric acid from different lignocellulosic sources and application for the conversion of Acacia mangium wood sawdust-derived glucose and fructose into levulinic acid

Preparation of sulfonated carbonaceous solid acid catalysts by fuming sulfuric acid from different lignocellulosic sources and application for the conversion of Acacia mangium wood sawdust-derived glucose and fructose into levulinic acid

Exploring Hydrochars from Lignocellulosic Wastes as Secondary Carbon Fuels for Sustainable Steel Production.

This study investigates the suitability of different lignocellulosic sources, namely eucalyptus, apple bagasse, and out-of-use wood, for injection into blast furnaces (BFs). While wastes possess carbon potential, their high moisture renders them unsuitable for direct energy utilization. Additionally, the P and K impurities, particularly in apple bagasse, can pose operational and product quality challenges in BF. Thus, different thermochemical processes were performed to convert raw biomass into a more suitable carbon fuel. Low-temperature carbonization was selected for eucalyptus, yielding a biochar with properties closer to the low-rank coal. Hydrothermal carbonization was chosen for apple bagasse and out-of-use wood, resulting in hydrochars with enhanced fuel characteristics and fewer adverse inorganic species but still limiting the amount in binary PCI blends. Thermogravimetry evaluated the cause-effect relationships between coal and coal- and bio-based chars during co-pyrolysis, co-combustion and CO2-gasification. No synergistic effects for char formation were observed, while biochars benefited ignition and reactivity during combustion at the programmed temperature. From heat-flow data in combustion, the high calorific values of the chars were well predicted. The CO2-gasification profiles of in situ chars revealed that lignin-rich hydrochars exhibited higher reactivity and conversion than those with a higher carbohydrate content, making them more suitable for gasification applications.

Systematic characterisation, and effect of nutritional and physical parameters on culturability, laccase production and dye decolorisation potential by P. pistillaris from Pakistan

Podaxis pistillaris is neutraceutically, cosmoceutically and medicinally recognised macrofungus. During this research work, this edible mushroom was systematically characterised. Its culturability, laccase production, and dye decolorisation potential were evaluated and optimised. Among the different media tested, PDA proved as most efficient medium for culturability of P. pistillaris. Conditions for laccase production were optimised in submerged state fermentation. Maximum laccase secretion was noted after 14th day of Incubation at 35 °C with 130 rpm and 5 pH of medium. Fructose and ammonium-phosphate was found as best carbon and nitrogen source, while wheat straw revealed as good ligno-cellulosic source for strengthening laccase production. Congo-red dye decolorisation capability by crude laccase enzyme was evaluated and found maximum decolorisation potential (92.2%) after 288h of incubation. From this pilot study, it was confirmed that this edible macrofungus has culturability, laccase production and dye decolorisation attributes that will further contribute in delignification, biosorption and bioremediation.

Effects of dietary supplementation of lignocellulose-derived cello-oligosaccharides on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and intestinal microbiota in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study evaluated the prebiotic potential of cello-oligosaccharides (COS) produced from birch (Betula pendula), an under-utilised lignocellulosic source from the forestry industry, on growth performance, mucosal immunity, gut microbiota composition, and antioxidant capacity of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In a 45-day trial, the fish were fed with diets containing 0%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.5% COS, while a diet containing fructo-oligosaccharides (0.5% FOS) was used as a positive control. Fish fed with the 0.5% and 1.5% COS diets showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher abundance of Ruminococcaceae, Bacillaceae and Lactobacillaceae, in the faecal microbiota. The COS diets also induced higher antioxidant capacity in the gut and serum, but there were no treatment effects (P > 0.05) on growth of rainbow trout. Gene expression analysis of the intestine showed significant elevation (P < 0.05) in expression of complement (c3 and c-type lectin) and receptor (tlr2) genes of the innate immune system in COS-fed fish. However, for cytokine and adaptive immune genes, no significant differences (P > 0.05) in gene transcripts were observed between the COS/FOS diets with the control diet. These results suggest that dietary cello-oligosaccharides can be a useful feed supplement for rainbow trout, which can modulate intestinal microbial communities, innate immune response and antioxidant capacity of the host.

Biomass-derived activated carbon nanocomposites for cleaner production: A review on aspects of photocatalytic pollutant degradation

Nowadays, water contamination resulting from the disposal of industrial and urban waste poses a significant threat to marine life and human. Hence, providing an effective treatment approach to reduce the total cost and duration of the wastewater treatment process is crucial. Although the adsorption and photocatalysis methods show superb potential for removing hazardous pollutants from water, their combination through a suitable synthesis route is one of the most effective ways to overcome their limitations. Activated carbon (AC) significantly accelerates the rate of pollutant degradation for AC-based photocatalysts compared to bare photocatalysts because of its ability to increase the number of attachment sites, strengthen the interaction between pollutants and photocatalysts, and facilitate rapid electron transfer to prevent electron or hole recombination. This study aims to investigate four main objectives: 1) evaluating key parameters to enhance the surface characterization of AC-derived from lignocellulosic sources using physical and chemical techniques; 2) Surveying various approaches for synthesizing AC-based photocatalysts; 3) explaining the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of pollutants and the operating parameters in the wastewater treatment process; and 4) providing an overview of the opportunities, challenges, suggestions, and potential future outlooks. Future studies should focus on understanding the structural properties of AC to design effective photocatalytic systems for degrading hazardous contaminants. Generally, AC-based nanocomposites reduce both process costs and duration and promote environmental sustainability by effectively eliminating pollutants.

Utilization of Recycled Egg Carton Pulp for Nitrocellulose as an Accelerant in Briquette Production.

Nitrocellulose (NC) is a conservative material that is used in a variety of applications, such as coating agents, biodegradable plastics, and propellant main charge. Nitrocellulose raw materials are easily obtained from lignocellulose sources, most notably cotton and wood pulp. The egg carton, a recycled paper waste designed for packaging and transporting eggs, is used in this study to make nitrocellulose in pulp form. The effects of different nitration durations (40, 50, and 60 min) from egg carton pulp bleached with various KOH concentrations (0.6 M, 1.0 M, and 1.5 M) on NC properties were evaluated. The accelerant properties of the NC of nitration time in 50 min were studied in a rice husk charcoal briquette. Rice husk charcoal briquettes are made in various ratios with nitrocellulose as an accelerant (97:3, 96:4, and 95:5). The NC was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. 1.0 M of bleached egg carton pulp has the highest cellulose content (86.94%) with the presence of crystalline structure of cellulose at peak 1430 cm-1 after the bleaching process. Meanwhile, different nitration times revealed that 50 min had the highest nitrogen content (7.97%) with a 1.23 degree of substitution (DS) value. Based on its TG analysis, NC 50 has met the requirements for use as an accelerant for briquettes, with an onset temperature of 91.60 °C and a weight loss of 62.60%. Infrared at peak 1640 cm-1 confirmed the presence of NO2 groups in nitrocellulose successfully formed by nitration. After the addition of nitrocellulose, the calorific value of the briquette increased from 13.54% to 15.47%. Fixed carbon and volatile matter showed the same pattern. The combustion of nitrocellulose-briquette has also been demonstrated by Td10% of degradation, which degraded between 310 and 345 °C.

Proficient Lignocellulolytic Novel Bacterial Isolates from Diversified Galiyat Forests of Lower Himalaya

Lignocellulosic biomass needs attention as an alternative energy source to overcome the adverse impacts of fossil fuels. Diversified Galiyat forests of Lower Himalaya may represent the potential source of lignocellulose degrading microbiota, particularly the lytic bacteria. Therefore, soil and wood samples were collected from different sites of Nathiagali and Thandiani of Galiyat forests. The soil samples collected were clayey, with a pH between 6.7 and 7.0, and with an organic matter of 2.8%–2.9% in Nathiagali and 2.1%–2.2% in Thandiani. The soils were enriched with more diversified cultivable bacteria (9 Log CFU/g) than the respective wood samples (7.4–8.6 Log CFU/g). Out of 90 bacteria, 22 isolates were efficient for cellulose degradation, 14 for xylanase activity, and 10 for laccase production. Cluster analysis showed that lignocellulolytic bacteria were grouped based on the sample medium (soil–wood) rather than the sampling site (Thandiani–Nathiagali). Efficient bacteria were also sequenced, and we found that cellulase production was prevalent in Pseudomonas spp. while laccase activity was diverse among taxonomically varied bacteria. Moreover, Stenotrophomonas sp. TS2B1 performed the best for corncob xylose degradation. Overall, the results suggest that Galiyat forests represent diverse lignocellulolytic microbial populations which should be further evaluated for applications in lignocellulosic waste management and for potential consequent fuel production.