LIGNOCELLULOSE BIOTECHNOLOGY - CURRENT AND FUTURE-PROSPECTS

Lignocellulose is the most abundant biomass available on Earth. It has attracted considerable attention as an alternate feed stock and energ y resource because of the large quantities available and its renewable nature. The potential uses of lignocelluloses are in pulp and paper i ndustries, production of fuel alcohol and chemicals, protein for food, and feed using biotechnological means. The current industrial activit y of lignocellulosic biomass fermentation is limited mainly because of the difficulty in economic bioconversion of these materials to value- added products. Considerable improvement in many processes related to lignocellulose biotechnology appeared during the last decade. Current uses of lignocellulosic biomass, process constraints, and areas of fut ure research are discussed here.