Two grams of delignified substrate at 10% (w/v) level was subjected to biphasic dilute acid hydrolysis using phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid separately at 110 degrees C for 10 min in phase-I and 121 degrees C for 15 min in phase-II. Combinations of acid concentrations in two phases were varied for maximum holocellulose hydrolysis with release of fewer inhibitors, to select the suitable acid and its concentration. Among three acids, sulfuric acid in combination of 1 & 2% (v/v) hydrolyzed maximum holocellulose of 25.44 +/- 0.44% releasing 0.51 +/- 0.02 g/L of phenolics and 0.12 +/- 0.002 g/L of furans, respectively. Further, hydrolysis of delignified substrate using selected acid by varying reaction time and temperature hydrolyzed 55.58 +/- 1.78% of holocellulose releasing 2.11 +/- 0.07 g/L and 1.37 +/- 0.03 g/L of phenolics and furans, respectively at conditions of 110 degrees C for 45 min in phase-I & 121 degrees C for 60 min in phase-II. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.