Abstract
The review deals with fuel ethanol production from plant-based lignocellulosic biomass as raw materials. In this article, the technologies for producing fuel ethanol with the main research prospects for improving them are discussed. The complexity in the biomass processing is identified by the analysis of various stages involved in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars. Further, the fermentation processes with its important features are explained based on biomass conversion. Comparative index for different types of biomass for fuel ethanol production is listed. Finally, some concluding remarks on current research regarding the pre-treatment along with biological conversion of biomass into ethanol are presented.