Jiao He peat was used. The effects of reaction time, ratio of liquid to solid, reaction temperature, acid concentration and catalyst on saccharification of peat with a high content of hemicellulose were studied under atmospheric and elevated pressures. The sugar yield from a one-stage hydrolysis of peat was compared with that from a two-stage hydrolysis. The results showed that a high yield of sugar could be obtained, with catalysts FeCl3 and HCl and under atmospheric pressure, from hydrolysis of peat with a high content of hemicellulose. The optimum conditions were as follows: pear particle size 100 mesh, reaction temperature 100 degrees C, acid concentration 1.0-1.5%, FeCl3 concentration 1.5-2.0%, ratio of liquid to solid 10.5-12.0, and reaction rime 80-100 min. Under such conditions about 70% of the substance which could be hydrolyzed was converted to sugar. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.