Abstract: A method for effecting saccharification of raw cellulosic material taken from any available source. The cellulosic material is hydrolyzed by immersing it in a bath of anhydrous liquid hydrogen chloride to yield usable glucose and other products. The cellulosic material may be processed through one or more pre-treatment steps, each acting to enhance the yield of glucose and other products when the pre-treated material is subjected to hydrolyzation by anhydrous liquid hydrogen chloride. The raw material may first be immersed in a caustic solution which swells the cellular structure to render it more reactive and acts to solubilize the lignins and other compounds contained therein, these being washed away to provide a prepared cellulosic material.