Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosics into Fermentable Sugars for Cellulosic Ethanol Production: An Overview

Facing great pressure of economic growth and energy crisis, China has paid more attention to the renewable energy and cellulosic ethanol has received increasing attention in recent years. The key from lignocelluloses to bioethanol is how to produce fermentable sugars effectively by hydrolysis of cellulose. Chemical, biological pretreatment and hot water pretreatment are considered as three important techniques for high yields of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosics. In this review, the three important techniques for high yields of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosics and the pretreatment study status, challenges, and future research targets were discussed.