An overview of xylose valorization through its conversion into high-value chemicals by yeast

Abstract

The valorization of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) holds critical importance within the circular economy framework. Xylose, a five-carbon monosaccharide and the second most abundant sugar in LCB, represents a versatile building block for industrial applications. However, its use in fermentation processes is less efficient compared to hexoses like glucose, primarily due to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae inability to metabolize this pentose. As a result, current industrial processes for xylose often rely on chemical catalysis methods, such as reduction and hydrogenation, which can have significant environmental impacts. Transitioning to sustainable processes requires both effective xylose recovery from LCB and enhanced fermentation efficiency. This review highlights LCB deconstruction techniques that yield high xylose concentrations and explores the potential of various yeast species to produce biofuels and value-added biomolecules from this pentose. This review summarizes recent advancements and highlights the potential for developing highly efficient xylose bioprocessing methodologies for sustainable biomass utilization.