Biotechnological potential of agro-industrial residues. I: sugarcane bagasse

Advances in industrial biotechnology offer potential opportunities for econ omic utilization of agro-industrial residues such as sugarcane bagase. Suga rcane bagasse, which is a complex material, is the major by-product of the sugar cane industry. It contains about 50% cellulose, 25% hemicellulose and 25% lignin. Due to its abundant availability, it can serve as an ideal sub strate for microbial processes for the production of value-added products. Attempts have been made to produce from bagasse substrate protein-enriched animal feed, enzymes, amino acids, organic acids and compounds of pharmaceu tical importance, etc. Often, a pretreatment process has resulted in improv ed substrate utilization by the microbes. Application of solid-state fermen tation technology could be an attractive possibility for such bioconversion s. This article reviews the recent developments on processes and products d eveloped for the value addition of sugarcane bagasse through the biotechnol ogical means. Emphasis has been given on more recent developments of the pa st 8-10 years. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al! rights reserved.