Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) respectively dissolved in water and 70% glycerol were applied to treat sugarcane bagasse (SCB) under the condition of 80 degrees C for 2 h. NaOH solutions could remove more lignin and obtain higher enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of SCB than Ca(OH)(2) solutions. Compared with the alkali-water solutions, the enzymatic hydrolysis of SCB treated in NaOH-glycerol solution decreased, while that in Ca(OH)(2)-glycerol solution increased. The lignin in NaOH-water pretreatment liquor could be easily recovered by calcium chloride (CaCl2) at room temperature, but that in Ca(OH)(2)-water pretreatment liquor couldn't. NaOH pretreatment is more suitable for facilitating enzymatic hydrolysis and lignin recovery of SCB than Ca(OH)(2) pretreatment.