The major impediments towards development of an economically
viable technology for biodegradation of cellulose are the
association with lignin and hemicellulose, crystallinity, DP and
surface area. During the biocatalytic valorization of lignocellulosic
substrate, a residual fraction survives the attack. This fraction
absorbs a significant amount of the original enzyme and restricts
the use of these enzymes on added, fresh substrate [52]. Most
potential cellulosic substrates for bioconversion are heavily lignified.
Thus, most of the cellulose in nature is unsuitable for
bioconversion unless effective and economically viable procedures
(pretreatments) are developed to remove or modify lignin.