Lignocellulosic biomass utilization toward biorefinery using meshophilic Clostridial species

Lignocellulosic biomass such as agricultural, industrial, and forestry residues as well as
dedicated crops constitute renewable and abundant resources with great potential for a lowcost
and uniquely sustainable bioconversion to value-added bioproducts. Thus, many
organic fuels and chemicals that can be obtained from lignocellulosic biomass can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, improve the economy, dispose of
problematic solid wastes, and improve air quality. In particular, liquid biofuels are attractive
candidates, since little or no change is needed to the current petroleum-based fuel
technologies. However, the biorefining process remains economically unfeasible due to a
lack of biocatalysts that can overcome costly hurdles such as cooling from high temperature,
pumping of oxygen/stirring, and, neutralization from acidic or basic pH. Therefore,
bioconversion of the lignocellulosic components into fermentable sugars is an essential step
in the biorefinery.