Cellulases in conversion of lignocellulosic waste into second-generation biofuel

Cellulases are enzymes involved in degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. Lignocellulosic wastes are present in the form of agricultural waste like Rice Straw, Wheat Straw, Corn Straw and Bagasse. These cellulose wastes have potential to be utilized for the production and recovery of several useful products like bioethanol.The first generation bio-fuel are produced from sugar and starch based materials like sugarcane and grains. Rising population and diminishing land resources create a controversy, that whether land used for production of food and feed should be diverted for production of bio-fuel, considering the starving human society. Therefore second generation biofuel derived from lignocellulosic biomass is the most feasable choice for generation of bio-ethanol. A vital objective of second millennium biotechnology is the enzymatic conversion of renewable cellulosic biomass to inexpensive fermentable sugars and fermentation of these sugars into ethanol.