between 422.5
and 711.2 mg TRS/g biomass were obtained in the enzymatic
hydrolysis of elephant grass, as showed in Fig. 3. The highest productions
of reducing sugars were achieved at higher temperature
(100 C), obtaining over 82% efficiency in the conversion of
polysaccharides into fermentable sugars. A direct relationship
between experimental variables and production of sugars cannot
be established from the experimental results. The highest amount
of reducing sugars from elephant grass, i.e., 711.2 mg TRS/g biomass,
was obtained under pretreatment conditions of 100 C,
2 h, 1.5 wt.% NaOH and solid to liquid ratio of 1 g of material
per 17.5 g of solution.