Table 1 Comparison of different pretreatments strategies and the increase of sugar yield as compared with the untreated substrate

Mixed hardwood [41]

Fenton (FeSO₄ 0.1 M, H₂O₂ 2.5 M, 50 °C, 96 h) + hydrothermal treatment (190 °C, 10 min)

3.80-fold

Rice straw [21]

Fenton (0.05 M FeCl₃, 2.5 M H₂O₂, 25 °C, 24 h)

3.85-fold

Cotton stalk [42]

Phanerochaete chrysosporium (fungal, 14 days, 39 °C)

< 1-fold

Glycyrrhiza uralensis [28]

H₂SO₄ (2.5%, 100 °C, 180 min) + Phanerochaete chrysosporium (fungal, 21 days, 28 °C)

2-fold

Rice straw [43]

NaOH/urea (4%/6%, − 10 °C, 240 min) + Sphingobacterium sp. LD-1 (bacterial, 4 days, 30 °C)

5.4-fold

Rice straw (in this study)

Fenton (0.02 M FeCl₃, 1.5 M H₂O₂, 25 °C, 120 min) + Cupriavidus basilensis B-8 (bacterial, 2 days, 30 °C)

4.71-fold