LAUSR

The utilization of microbial cellulase for converting lignocellulosic biomass into value-added green chemicals has become a promising technology to meet our current energy requirements. This study highlights the cellulase activity of a Candida tropicalis isolate YES3 and its efficacy in utilizing Napier grass biomass as a natural source of carbon in producing cellulase, which plays a vital role in the production of value-added green chemicals. The optimum cellulase activity of the YES3 isolate, observed after optimizing factors such as pH, temperature, and incubation period, was 35.53 μmol of glucose min−1. Cellulase activity positively increased by the statistical method of response surface methodology and after using a natural source of carbon. Napier grass biomass was substituted as a carbon source in the cellulase medium, and the cellulase activity was 25.49 μmol of glucose min−1. The saccharification potential of the C. tropicalis isolate YES3 in Napier grass biomass was evaluated, and it was maximum on the third day at 31.93%. This study aimed to optimize the medium composition of C. tropicalis cellulase using Napier grass biomass, a natural source of carbon and could be a constructive path for the biomass-based economy.