Current status of xylanase for biofuel production: a review on classification and characterization

Strengthening green alternative energy sources has been enforced due to hydrocarbon fuels' consequential harmful impacts. Climate change, economic enhancement, and energy security are motivating reasons behind the idea of expansion of biofuel production worldwide. Raw materials like lignocellulose have wide range of complex sugars in the form of cellulose (60-70%) and xylan (30-40%) which further by its hydrolysis and fermentation can be used to produce biofuels. Presently, naturally occurring xylanase enzyme is widely used as a natural resource for biofuel diligence to break down the second abundant beta-1,4 xylan sugar into xylooligosaccharide, xylobiose, and xylose subunits. For larger scale, numerous approaches are required to improve or modify its thermostability, specificity, and enzyme activity along with its broad range of substrate to shorten the cost in biofuel production. Therefore, the present review provides a synopsis of present scenario of xylanase as a major participant in biofuel production, along with its various applications and factors affecting xylanase production. This present review provides evidence that narrates its presence in the production of biofuels such as bioethanol and biobutanol. Lastly, the present works discuss the major aspects of biofuel conversion efficiency.