ACIDIC HYDROLYSIS OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS WITH MINIMAL USE OF AN ACID CATALYST

This specification describes a process of producing a monomeric sugar stream, with little or no acid addition, from an oligomeric sugar solution using the intrinsic features of the mildly pre-treated vegetable or ligno-cellulosic biomass, namely the presence of naturally occurring salts. This is accomplished by lowering the pH of the oligomer sugar solution with little or no addition of an acid and then exposing the biomass with the lowered pH to an elevated temperature greater than 80° C. for a time sufficient to hydrolyze the components of the biomass.