TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The process further comprises subjecting components of the mixture to acid hydrolysis. The step of separating the mixture into a cellulose-enriched fraction is carried out in the presence of the ionic liquid and in the absence of another solvent. Preferred Components: The ionic liquid comprises anions and cations, where the anions are carboxylates (preferred), halides or phosphates, and the cations are imidazoles, pyridines or pyrroles. The lignocellulosic material is hardwood, softwood, energy crops, agricultural waste biomass, forest residuals or recovered lignocellulosic fiber, preferably softwood chips or switch grass. The ionic liquid is 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate. The weight percent of glucose in the cellulose-enriched fraction is at least 15% points greater than the wt.% of glucose attributable to cellulose and hemicellulose in the lignocellulosic material. EXAMPLE - Southern pine wood chip pins were acetone-extracted to remove extractives by contacting the wood chips with acetone for 24 hours at a 4-1 (wt/wt) acetone to chips ratio, decanting off the acetone and repeating the process. The wood chips were dried for 2 hours at 105 degrees C prior to dissolution. 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIMAc) was also heated to 105 degrees C prior to contacting the acetone-extracted southern pine pins with EMIMAc. The heated wood chip pins and ionic liquid were quickly weighed into a 250 ml, three-neck, round bottom flask. The flask was then transferred to a preheated 95 degrees C oil bath. The flask was connected to a mechanical stirrer with adapter and two ground glass stoppers. The mixture was then stirred for 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 56, 64, 72, 80, and 88 hours. After the foregoing stirring times were complete, the flask was removed from the heat and the mixture was divided into two centrifuge tubes. The mixture was then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 30 minutes and worked up to give cellulose-enriched fraction.