Chapter 7
Xylanases: A Helping Module
for the Enzyme Biorefinery Platform
Nisha Bhardwaj and Pradeep Verma
Abstract The continuous increase in the energy demand has resulted in the gradual
depletion of fossil fuel resources and an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission.
As an alternate, the emphasis has shifted towards green methods, i.e. biofuel generation using lignocellulosic plant biomass via microorganisms and its biomolecules
(e.g. endo-xylanase). The lignocellulosic plant biomass serves as a suitable alternative
for the fossil fuel resources. They are found abundantly on earth and can be considered
as a renewable source for the suitable biorefinery process. Endo-xylanase is a crucial
enzyme that effectively cleaves glycosidic linkages present in the complex structure of
xylan which carry the most hemicellulosic part of the lignocellulosic plant cell wall.
Using the enzymes individually or in combination with other enzymes or with
multienzyme-producing microorganisms can be a suitable approach for developing
advanced biorefinery processes. The present chapter deals with the involvement of
xylanase in the biorefinery process and its advantages, limitations and future prospect.
Keywords Microorganisms · Enzymes · Endo-xylanase · Lignocellulosic biomass ·
Biorefinery
7.1 Introduction
Biorefining is the sustainable bioconversion of biomass (renewable resources) into a
range of industrial products like chemical, food and feed and, similarly, bioenergy
like electricity, heat and fuel (De Jong et al. 2009). Being a keystone of bioeconomy,
the aim of completely revealing the potential of biomass from lignocellulosic plants
(agricultural and forestry) in the economic method remains undefinable. The continuous increase in the consumption of energy and the decrease in the supply of fossil
N. Bhardwaj · P. Verma (*)
Bioprocess and Bioenergy Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Central University of
Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
e-mail: pradeepverma@curaj.ac.in
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Srivastava et al. (eds.), Bioenergy Research: Revisiting Latest Development,
Clean Energy Production Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4615-4_7
161
Xylanases: A Helping Module
for the Enzyme Biorefinery Platform
Nisha Bhardwaj and Pradeep Verma
Abstract The continuous increase in the energy demand has resulted in the gradual
depletion of fossil fuel resources and an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission.
As an alternate, the emphasis has shifted towards green methods, i.e. biofuel generation using lignocellulosic plant biomass via microorganisms and its biomolecules
(e.g. endo-xylanase). The lignocellulosic plant biomass serves as a suitable alternative
for the fossil fuel resources. They are found abundantly on earth and can be considered
as a renewable source for the suitable biorefinery process. Endo-xylanase is a crucial
enzyme that effectively cleaves glycosidic linkages present in the complex structure of
xylan which carry the most hemicellulosic part of the lignocellulosic plant cell wall.
Using the enzymes individually or in combination with other enzymes or with
multienzyme-producing microorganisms can be a suitable approach for developing
advanced biorefinery processes. The present chapter deals with the involvement of
xylanase in the biorefinery process and its advantages, limitations and future prospect.
Keywords Microorganisms · Enzymes · Endo-xylanase · Lignocellulosic biomass ·
Biorefinery
7.1 Introduction
Biorefining is the sustainable bioconversion of biomass (renewable resources) into a
range of industrial products like chemical, food and feed and, similarly, bioenergy
like electricity, heat and fuel (De Jong et al. 2009). Being a keystone of bioeconomy,
the aim of completely revealing the potential of biomass from lignocellulosic plants
(agricultural and forestry) in the economic method remains undefinable. The continuous increase in the consumption of energy and the decrease in the supply of fossil
N. Bhardwaj · P. Verma (*)
Bioprocess and Bioenergy Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Central University of
Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
e-mail: pradeepverma@curaj.ac.in
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Srivastava et al. (eds.), Bioenergy Research: Revisiting Latest Development,
Clean Energy Production Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4615-4_7
161