A method of producing an alcohol from lignocellulosic biomass is provided wherein the lignocellulosic biomass is pretreated with an alkaline mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate, i.e., green liquor, prior to enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Pretreatment with the green liquor increases the efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolysis. Both the alcohol produced from the fermentation and the lignin that dissolves into the green liquor during pretreatment can also be used as fuels.
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