Enzyme Cocktail-driven Biocatalytic Strategies for SustainableLignocellulosic Waste Conversion: Recent Innovations in Bioprocessand Chemical Engineering

Lignocellulose is the most abundant renewable carbohydrate polymer in plants and represents a promising feedstock for the sustainable production of value-added bioproducts. However, efficient conversion of lignocellulosic waste into fermentable intermediates remains a major challenge due to its complex and recalcitrant structure. Biocatalytic strategies based on multienzyme systems have emerged as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional thermochemical methods. This review consolidates emerging innovations in synergistic enzyme cocktails comprising cellulases, hemicellulases, and ligninases (lignin- modifying oxidoreductases). These enzyme cocktails are designed to enhance depolymerisation kinetics, improve substrate accessibility, and increase overall process efficiency during lignocellulosic biomass conversion. Advances in enzyme engineering, process intensification, reactor design, immobilization strategies, and hybrid chemicalbiological pretreatment methods are also discussed in detail. Furthermore, recent developments integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for cocktail optimization, enzyme stability prediction, and controlling the system level are also highlighted. This review also evaluates scalable bioprocess configurations that convert lignocellulosic waste into biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials. This supports clean energy transitions and carbon-neutral chemical manufacturing of value-added products. By merging biocatalysis, reaction engineering, and sustainable process design, this work presents a comprehensive overview of recent innovations that advance both the scientific and engineering aspects of lignocellulosic waste conversion.