Low-cost Biomaterials for Bioprocessing and Plasmonic Applications

Biomass is defined as living or recently dead organisms and any byproducts of those organisms, plant or animal. In general, biomass compasses all living things. In the context of biomass energy, however, the term refers to those crops, residues, and other biological materials that can be used as a substitute for fossil fuels in the production of energy and other products. In this research work, we demonstrate the complete utilization of biomass for energy and sensing applications in bioprocessing and plasmonics respectively. The research has aimed at total utilization of groundnut shell (GNS), an agricultural waste for both enzymes production and plasmonic applications as well. We have used GNS substrate in solid state and submerged fermentation for the production of cellulolytic enzymes with Trichoderma harzianum (endophytic fungus), Aspergillus oryzae (epiphytic fungus), Pycnoporus sanguineus (macro fungus). We have also demonstrated the applications of lignin and activated carbon derived from the processed GNS biomass and proteins for plasmoinic applications.