Hydrolysis of water-washed (Fig. 1A–C) and unwashed (Fig. 1D–F) steam-exploded substrates yielded higher reducing sugar concentrations when compared to that of untreated elephant grass. However, these yields were lower than those obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of delignified cellulose fibers (Celuflock ) or microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel ). Hydrolysis of Celuflock exhibited a peak in the release of reducing sugars at 36 h, which corresponded to 1054.82 ± 16.11 mg/g (dry basis), whereas the reducing sugars released from Avicel peaked at
935.96 ± 46.33 mg/g at the end of hydrolysis (48 h). As expected, untreated elephant grass exhibited the lowest release of reducing sugars, reaching only 310.10 ± 3.12 mg/g after 36 h of hydrolysis.