Microbial Mediated Valorization of Lignocellulose: A Green Technology for Bioethanol Production

In the modern world, the attention is raised for the development of newer technologies for the transformation of biological wastes into biofuels as an alternative option of exhaustible petroleum or other sources. The organic parts of agricultural wastes, forest residues, food wastes, and municipal and industrial wastes contain an unlimited source of lignocellulosic biomass which could potentially be used for generating second-generation biofuels such as “bioethanol.” Microorganisms play an important role in all probable steps intended for lignocelluloses hydrolysis. The greener technological approach for green fuel production through application of microorganisms is a sustainable and renewable approach which is carried out in three steps such as (a) hydrolysis of lignin; (b) hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses; (c) fermentation of glucose to ethanol. The high production of ethanol is the need of the cotemporary world and therefore it becomes necessary to explore different microorganisms having a high potential for ethanol yield. Moreover, introducing metabolic engineering techniques is the current advancement for development of modified microbial cells for enhanced production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The present chapter focuses on the valorization of lignocelluloses waste through microorganisms and their mechanisms required for bioethanol synthesis from lignocellulosic biomass.