Multivariable analysis of the effects of factors in the pretreatment and enzymolysis processes on saccharification efficiency

•PLS analysis can be utilized to evaluate the pretreatment and enzymolysis processes.•Influence factors of the saccharification efficiency in the processes were analyzed.•Pretreatment methods affect saccharification efficiency more than biomass material. In this study, the saccharifications of different fractions of corn stover subjected to pretreatments followed by enzymolysis were investigated, and the saccharification efficiencies were evaluated and compared. Partial least squares analysis was performed to analyze the effects of 10 key variables on the saccharification efficiency (SE) and characterize interrelated relationships in the pretreatment and enzymolysis processes. The effects of the pretreatment methods and chemical compositions on the SE were compared. The results revealed that the enzymolysis reducing sugar yield has the greatest impact on the SE, and the pretreatment methods was proven to have a greater effect on the SE. Acid steam explosion pretreatment (ASE) affected the SE most of the three pretreatments, and it was closely related with hemicellulose and lignin. This work provides a new method to motivate a further understanding of the saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass.