Effects of gamma-valerolactone in hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass to monosaccharides

The use of gamma-valerolactone as solvent for acid-catalyzed biomass hydrolysis reactions increases reaction rates compared to reactions carried out in water. In addition, a low apparent activation energy for biomass hydrolysis and a higher value for monosaccharide conversion are displayed using GVL as solvent, leading to favorable energetics for monosaccharide production from biomass.