Enzymes involved in the biodegradation of sugarcane biomass: Challenges and perspectives

Abstract

This chapter introduces the role of enzymes in the biomass degradation, namely sugarcane bagasse and straw, leading to the formation of fermentable sugars and second-generation ethanol. The chapter begins with a retrospective of the structuring of the ethanol production chain and then presents current aspects where the deficit of production and its consequences in business can be seen. Subsequently, we list the role of enzymes involved in the biomass hydrolysis, the commercial cocktails, and the proposal of our laboratory in this context. On the other hand, the efficiency of enzymes on the biomass is increased when the bagasse and straw are pretreated. Thus, some technologies that may facilitate the enzymatic hydrolysis and the formation of fermentable sugars are described. Lastly, recent analytical methods that enable a better analysis of the composition and viewing of fiber in the sugarcane biomass are presented.