ABSTRACT
Enzymes are crucial for humans and have infinite applications in various sectors, especially in the various bioprocess techniques. Although enzymes can be isolated from plants as well as animals, microbial sources are preferred because of their techno-economic advantages. To date, diverse microbial sources have been explored for enzyme production from various inorganic substrates, thereby enhancing the cost of production. The high cost incurred during the production of the enzyme further affects the economy of any biochemical process. Hence, to avoid this problem and economize the production, the valorization of agro-industrial residues has been in the spotlight of various researchers worldwide. Lignocellulosic biomasses are generated in ample quantities and are composed of several nutritional components. Hence, the disposal of wastes is one of the prime environmental concerns that can be resolved by its utilization as substrates for the cost-effective production of enzymes. Even though various biotechnological strategies have been developed and investigated, nevertheless, some technical barriers must be considered during large-scale enzyme production by both submerged as well as solid-state fermentation techniques. In this context, this chapter provides detailed information about the various agro-industrial residues, their composition as well as structure, and further their utilization as potential substrates for the microbial production of varied enzymes.
