Insights from enzymatic degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose to fermentable sugars- a review

Lignocellulose, the most abundant and renewable resource on Earth is an important raw material, which can be converted into high value products. However, to this end, it needs to be pretreated physically, chemically, or biologically. Its complex structure and recalcitrance against physical, chemical, or biological degradation render its breakdown an important target of study. The understanding of the enzymatic processes of lignocellulose breakdown and the changes in its chemistry are thus essential. Here, we review the current analytical challenges in the analysis of lignocellulose composition, lignocelluloytic pretreatment, analysis of enzymatic hydrolysis catalyzed by cellulases or hemicellulases and their biotechnological applications.