Low severity dilute-acid hydrolysis of sweet sorghum bagasse

► At 10% substrate loading, total degradation compounds (TDC) formation limited at ⩽121 °C. ► Efficiency (TS/TDC ratio) >8 at combined severity factor between 1.64-1.93. ► Efficiency increases with particle size reduction. ► Total sugars (TS) yield not enhanced by higher substrate loading.