Advancements in Extremozymes and their Potential Applications in Biorefinery

There is rapid increase towards the use of easily available, renewable and cheap biomass for the production of a large number of value added products in different biorefineries. Biorefineries utilize the cost effective biomass to convert into desired product by the activities of microbial cells and their enzymes. Enzymes play a major role in bioconversion processes; many of these processes require enzymes which are operationally stable at unique conditions viz. high temperature, low or high pH, high salinity, high pressure, low water availability, high ionizing radiations and high concentration of heavy metals and other toxic compounds etc. Extremophiles have been widely projected as sources of industrially relevant enzymes which work under the extreme conditions. In this chapter, we discuss the potential applications of extremophiles and their extremozymes have been discussed with major focus on conversion of lignocellulosic waste and starchy waste into valuable products.