Lignocellulosic wastes: biological conversion

For the last 20 years researchers have been shifting their attentions from ways of disposing of lignocellulosic wastes to utilizing these wastes to produce useful products of higher value. Examples of these products are: single cell protein (SCP) (Chahal, 1991a) to help to meet the ever increasing demand for protein and for introducing new foods to the world; and liquid fuel (ethanol) because of the dwindling supply of fossil fuels and also to minimize the environmental effects of pollution generated by these fossil fuels (McIntyre, 1987). Complete utilization of lignocellulosic wastes is the challenge that researchers face to produce the desired products economically and to eliminate the pollution generated by them.