Lignocellulosic biomass in circular economy: A techno-transition in carbon neutrality towards sustainable energy production

The ongoing energy crisis and global warming threat represent major challenges of the century. Our dependence on conventional fuels has reached to a critical level where attempts are made to reduce the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission and impede its ramifications. Simultaneously, it is projected to have alternative greener energy resources to reduce the deleterious effect of biofuels on humans and the environment. The lignocellulosic biomass (LCB, an abundant feedstock) constitutes an important renewable resource with potential to replace non-renewable ones for energy production. The shift in the usage of natural resources projects biofuels on the forefront to overcome the growing energy crisis and offer a sustainable solution to the global warming to minimize its impact at the global scale. Offering a long-term viability, biofuels upholds a key component in the economic prosperity of a nation. This article highlights important aspects of feedstock selection, a concise and comprehensive account of the pre-treatment procedures, and enzymatic saccharification of the LCB employed in the biofuel production. Considering the biomass heterogeneity and optimization in predicting and managing the outputs and huge capital and operating expenditures, the study presents integration of the microbial saccharification with established biofuel technologies towards enhancing efficiency and overall productivity. Additionally, an account of the artificial technology and machine learning approaches employed in harnessing renewable resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, have been added. Holding a greater promise, the review adds to the need of developing robust and efficient LCB conversion methods to scale up and excel in sustainable energy production for a greener future.