Processing of Lespedeza stalks by pretreatment with low severity steam and post-treatment with alkaline peroxide

► Lespedeza crytobotrya, a potential biomass resource. ► Low severity steam pretreatment preserves valuable biomass fractions. ► Further delignification with alkaline peroxide increases hydrolysis yield. ► Depolymerization and repolymerization of lignin in alkaline peroxide treatment.