Cellulase in Waste Management Applications

Our society produces a lot of voluminous waste of biomass every day, which are mainly lignocellulose in origin. It is the most abundant plant cell wall component of the biosphere and the most plentiful biological compound on terrestrial earth. The successful conversion of cellulosic waste from domestic, industrial, and municipal sources through economically feasible processes to valuable by-products has long been admitted as a desirable endeavor. The degradation of cellulosic materials has gained increasing attention due to its worldwide availability and enormous potential for transforming them into sugars, fuels, and chemical feedstocks. Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass holds tremendous promise due to the high specificity and production of high yields of glucose without generation of degradation products, unlike acid/alkali hydrolysis. It has lower utility cost and hydrolysis occurs under mild reaction conditions. Microorganisms that degrade cellulose are abundant and universal in nature. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose requires the use of cellulase enzyme. Fungi and bacteria are the main cellulase-producing microorganisms. A “twofold” benefit could be achieved through a sustainable bioconversion of biomass by cellulase enzyme. First, it would reduce the amount of cellulosic waste and diminish its effects on our environment; and second, the bioconversion of waste would be an alternative source of fuel energy to shrink our growing dependence on fossil fuels.