What are some current and emerging industrial applications of microbial cellulases?

Microbial cellulases have a wide and growing array of industrial applications, driven by their ability to break down cellulose into valuable products:

• Biofuels Production: This is a major application, as cellulases hydrolyze lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars (glucose), which are then converted into bioethanol and other advanced biofuels. This offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
• Textile Industry:Bio-stoning (Stone Washing): Cellulases provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional pumice stones for achieving a “stone-washed” look on denim, without damaging the fabric or machinery.
• Bio-polishing: They remove fuzz and pills from fabric surfaces, improving softness, brightness, and appearance.
• De-fibrillation: Used for fabrics like Lyocell.
• Pulp and Paper Industry:Deinking: Cellulases help remove ink and other contaminants from recycled paper pulp, improving paper brightness and quality.
• Pulping and Bleaching: They can enhance these processes, reducing the need for harsh chemicals and saving energy.
• Fiber Modification: Improve fiber strength, cleanliness, and overall paper properties.
• Laundry and Detergent Industry: Cellulases in detergents remove dirt, restore fabric color, improve brightness, and impart smoothness, offering a “fabric care” benefit.
• Food and Feed Industry:Food Processing: Improve stabilization, extraction, and clarification of fruit and vegetable juices, and enhance the texture and stability of various food products (e.g., as thickeners or emulsifiers).
• Animal Feed: Supplement animal feed to improve its nutritional value, enhance digestion and absorption of fibrous materials, and promote weight gain.
• Agricultural Industries:Disease Control: Degrading the cell walls of plant pathogens.
• Crop Improvement: Enhancing seed germination, root development, and overall plant growth.
• Soil Quality: Improving soil health, which can reduce reliance on mineral fertilizers.
• Waste Management: Converting cellulosic agricultural, forestry, and industrial wastes into valuable products (e.g., food, feed, organic acids, enzymes), contributing to circular economy practices.
• Pharmaceutical Applications: Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and other derivatives are used as binders, disintegrants, and stabilizers in tablet formulations. Cellulases are also being explored for treating phytobezoars and degrading bacterial biofilms in medical contexts.
• Flavonoids Extraction: Assisting in the extraction and modification of beneficial flavonoids from plants.

Ongoing research focuses on enhancing enzyme stability and efficiency to make these applications even more economically viable.