Bioprocessing of Cassava Bagasse: Part II—Potential for Renewable Biofuels

Dwindling fossil fuel reserves combined with the exponentially growing population has raised concerns over energy sustainability. Biofuel production from microbial bioprocesses has appeared as the potential supplemental energy source to current non-renewable ones. The former is renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Notwithstanding, biofuel processes are currently not feasible, attributable to the limited supply and high costs associated with food-based crops as feedstocks. Interestingly, the agricultural industry generates large quantities of biomass waste residues in the form of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) and lignocellulose-starch biomass (LCSB) that consist of leaves, peels, and bagasse, amongst various others, that are usually landfilled or disposed of, resulting in detrimental effects on the environment. Both LCB and LCSB consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in their structural composition, however, the latter contains starch, which is considered to be a major advantage over the former as a feedstock for microbial bioprocesses. Particularly, cassava bagasse (CB), a waste generated by the cassava starch industry, has demonstrated significant potential as a feedstock for biofuel production. The present chapter outlined the potential of CB as a feedstock for biofuel production. The status of global cassava production, waste generation, and disposal of CB is presented. Then, the general composition of CB and the significance of its structural composition in industrial biotechnology is highlighted. Subsequently, the different stages during LCSB bioprocesses are briefly described followed by the application of CB for the production of bioethanol, biohydrogen, biogas, and biobutanol. To conclude, the challenges and prospects of using LCSB such as CB in bioprocessing were noted.