**Author details**

ry to choose a microorganism or a microbial complex capable of synthesizing proteins with high nutritional value and, in the case of use of a substrate that has not been subjected to a previous hydrolysis step, able to degrade selectively the lignin present in the substrate. The lignocellulosic wastes can be fermented directly or they can be previously hydrolyzed chem‐ ically. Several reports have shown the application of substrates chemically pre-hydrolyzed for rapid protein enrichment by microbial fermentation. For example, Pessoa et al [157] hy‐ drolyzed sugarcane bagasse using diluted sulphuric acid and the hydrolysate was ferment‐ ed with *Candida tropicalis*. This process resulted in a 31.3% increase in protein content after 5 days of fermentation. However, for non-ruminant animals, which are not able to metabolize the natural fibers that comprise the bulk of lignocellulosic wastes, the bioconversion process must aim to transform these fibers into digestible components such as protein and sugars

32 Sustainable Degradation of Lignocellulosic Biomass - Techniques, Applications and Commercialization

Sugarcane bagasse (SB) and straw (SS) constitute a sizeable fraction of agro-residues in many countries. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane residues in the world. Hemicel‐ lulose, in both raw materials, is an important fraction and could be a sustainable alternative for the production of second generation ethanol, industrial enzymes, food/feed and fine chemicals such as lactic acid, succinic acid, etc. It can be easily converted into simple sugars by thermochemical processes and the resultant sugar solution after conditioning and detoxi‐ fication, can be converted into the aforementioned products by biotechnological routes. Al‐ terations in thermochemical processes such as implication of counter-current, plug-flow, percolation and shrinking-bed reactors could be helpful to maximize the sugars recovery with minimum inhibitors generation. There are several promising detoxification strategies available which remove the inhibitors from hydrolysates. The detoxified sugar solution can be converted into valuable products including second generation ethanol by appropriate mi‐ croorganisms under batteries of fermentation. Laboratories based research progress has clearly showed that it is quite possible to convert hemicellulose into commercially signifi‐ cant products with desired yields and productivities. However, it is necessary to build a ro‐ bust process to be employed at industrial scale. Bio-products derived from hemicellulose of SB/SS have shown potential to replace chemically synthesize products. Owing to this, bioindustrial companies offer numerous opportunities to develop unique functionality and marketing benefits from the products derived from hemicellulose of SB/SS creating long

The authors acknowledge the funding sources Fapesp, Capes and CNPq. Editors would like to thank EEL/USP for providing necessary facilities and basic infrastructure. We are grateful

(mono- and disaccharides) as well as vitamins and minerals.

**5. Conclusion and future recommendations**

term sustainability and green environment.

**Acknowledgements**

Larissa Canilha, Rita de Cássia Lacerda Brambilla Rodrigues, Felipe Antônio Fernandes Antunes, Anuj Kumar Chandel\* , Thais Suzane dos Santos Milessi, Maria das Graças Almeida Felipe and Silvio Silvério da Silva\*

\*Address all correspondence to: silvio@debiq.eel.usp.br and anuj.kumar.chandel@gmail.com

Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering of Lorena, University of São Paulo, Lorena, Brazil
