The scientists tested how treating corn stover with weak sulfuric acid can help turn it into sugars for fermentation. They tried different acid levels and temperatures to find the best conditions. The most effective treatment used 0.75% acid at 150°C for 30 minutes, followed by adding a specific enzyme. This process produced 49.74g of glucose and xylose from 100g of dry corn stover. By looking at the fibers under a microscope and using a special tool to analyze the structure, they saw that the acid treatment changed the biomass and removed some parts like lignin and hemicellulose.