Significance of Enzymatic Actions in Biomass Waste Management: Challenges and Future Scope

Enzymes are biological molecules produced by living entities for carrying out biological processes. The application of enzymes for waste treatment has been gaining pace commercially to solve concerns related to agricultural residues, wastewater, replacement of synthetic processes with natural ones, etc. The application of enzymes for waste management has been an environmentally reliable and sustainable process. Treatment of waste with enzymes such as xylanase, proteases, hydrolases, cellulose, peroxidases, chitinases, and laccases has been studied to be effective. These enzymes act upon the waste products and transform them into biodegradable forms that could be recycled, reused, and converted to value-added products. They have wide applications and utility as it has been an effective, economically cheaper, and sustainable technique. Application of such enzymes for waste management would be beneficial for reducing the quantity of waste, diminishing the negative effects of waste and pollution on the environment, and bio-converting the waste products into alternate sources of energy. This chapter focuses on different types of enzymes, their applications for waste management, and their limitations. This chapter also emphasizes the usage of some prominent microorganisms, their secreted enzymes, and their proposed mechanisms of action involved with the degradation of the waste products.