Revealing the importance of non-thermal effect to strengthen hydrolysis of cellulose by synchronous cooling assisted microwave driving

•Non-thermal effect is revealed to strengthen hydrolysis by synchronous cooling.•Efficiency of hydrolysis of cellulose to sugar driven by microwave is improved.•Enhancement of non-thermal effect weakens the recrystallization of cellulose. Non-thermal effect of microwave is precisely revealed as an important factor to strengthen the hydrolysis of cellulose to sugar by a new method of synchronous cooling assisted microwave driving. Using this particular method, the thermal effect is mandatorily removed from the hydrolysis of cellulose. After systematic analysis of the hydrolysis of low crystalline regenerated cellulose (RC), the non-thermal effect of microwave is proved to strengthen hydrolysis. The enhancement of non-thermal effect effectively weaken the interaction between the hydroxyl groups of -O(2)H and -O(6)H, as well as strengthen interaction between the hydroxyl groups of -O(3)H and -O(5)H within one single molecular chain. It leads to the reduction of regularity of molecular chain and thus inhibits the recrystallization of RC. As a result, the efficiency of hydrolysis is greatly improved. This research provides an important theoretical support and technical guidance to construct new microwave driven hydrolysis with high efficiency in the future.