Dilute acid pretreatment of lignocellulose for whole slurry ethanol fermentation

► EFB were pretreated with 1% (w/v) sulfuric acid at 190 °C. ► Washed and pretreated EFB showed 88.5% glucose yield in the enzymatic hydrolysis. ► Whole pretreated EFB gave 87.5% ethanol yield based on total glucan of initial EFB.