An Approach Toward Cellulase Production, Bioconversion, and Utilization

Abstract

Cellulose is the salient constituent of plant biomass and a prolific renewable energy feedstock. The waste from industrial and agricultural matrices consists of sustainable amounts of cellulose that can effectively be utilized for the production of highly valued by-products. Extremophile bacterial cellulase is currently garnering the focus of researchers due its stability across broad temperature (40°C–130°C) and pH (6–10) ranges, making application for its use in food processing, paper/pulp industry, as an additive in the animal feed industry, textile industry, biofuel, and bioremediation. Cellulase activity is controlled via various metal ions that either induce or reduce the enzyme activity. In an attempt to achieve an efficient bioethanol production process, cellulase enzyme is under consideration as a potential biocatalyst. This chapter provides an overview of cellulase enzyme, specifically covering its bioconversion and utilization in biochemistry, genetics, and proteomics sectors.