ABSTRACT
Biotechnological transformation of renewable and inexpensive lignocellulosic feedstocks to second-generation biofuels and value-added products is globally considered as an environmentally sustainable approach to replace fossil fuels. The efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic feedstocks is a prerequisite condition for economically viable conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to bioenergy products. This chapter aims at recent developments of lignocellulolytic enzymes for successful utilization in the production of second-generation biofuels. The isolation of efficient lignocellulolytic enzyme producing strains is the first step to make the process cost-effective. Inexpensive lignocellulosic biomass has been utilized under solid-state fermentation to produce a concentrated enzyme that lowers the cost of enzyme production. Moreover, the technique such as co-cultivation of microorganisms has been employed that produces balanced ratios of enzymes. Many factors that affect the hydrolysis process, such as, recycling of enzymes, the synergy of enzymes, production of inhibitors, adsorption of enzymes and surfactants on the substrate, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation has also been discussed in this chapter.
