Bioconversion of CellulosicudWastes into a ValuableudResource: Cellulosic wastes - AudValuable Resource for IndustrialudOrganisms, Enzymes, Media andudFermentation Substrates

摘要

Cellulosic wastes could be turned into several value-added products through bioconversion. This work examined four practical waysudof transforming the vast amount of cellulosic wastes in our environment into a valuable resource. Being a natural habitat ofudcell-wall hydrolyzing organisms, cellulosic wastes are good sources of viable cellulolytic organisms. These are organisms thatudproduce enzymes that degrade plant cell-wall polymers. The wastes can therefore serve as a source of low-cost fermentationudsubstrates for producing industrial enzymes needed for the saccharification of cellulosic materials. It could also be used as cheapudcarbon and energy source for selective media used in cultivating cellulolytic organisms. Such uses will undoubtedly reduce the costudmicrobial media and also the production cost of cellulolytic enzymes. The waste cellulosic materials can also be enzymaticallyudhydrolyzed into simple sugars using cellulolytic enzymes such as cellulases and xylanases. Hydrolysis of plant cell walludpolysaccharides into simple sugars is the primary step needed for the conversion of cellulosic materials into bulk chemicals such asudethanol and biogas.