Preparation of lactic acid, formic acid and acetic acid from cotton cellulose by the alkaline pre-treatment and hydrothermal degradation.

Highlights: [•] Alkaline pre-treatment was introduced to improve the degradation of cellulose. [•] The main products from the process were lactic acid, formic acid and the acetic acid. [•] The maximum yields of 39.54% for lactic acid, 21.85% for formic acid were achieved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]