[Progress on cellulase and enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass]

Biofuels and bio-based chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass are sustainable, making them alternatives to petroleum-derived fuels and chemicals to address the challenges of the shortage of crude oil supply and climate change resulted from the overconsumption of petroleum-based products, particularly in China. However, high cost in liberating sugars from lignocellulosic biomass is still the bottleneck of the commercialization of biofuels and bio-based chemicals. In this article, the major components of cellulases and their synergistic role in the hydrolysis of pre-treated biomass is reviewed, followed by how to evaluate the enzymatic hydrolysis. With the elucidation of the underlying mechanism of the conformations of the enzyme molecules and their effectiveness in attacking cellulose substrate, more efficient enzymes are expected to be developed. Using the high production strain Penicillium decumbens, the on-site production of cellulases for cellulose ethanol production is discussed.