Xylose production from giant reed (Arundo donax L.): Modeling and optimization of dilute acid hydrolysis

► Reed heteroxylan was effectively converted to monomeric units within one-step hydrolysis reaction. ► Response surface methodology was applied for process statistical modeling and optimization. ► Xylose recovery of 94% was achieved under optimized conditions vs. 93% predicted by model. ► Low concentration of toxic substances provided a high quality of xylose-rich substrate.