The researchers wanted to improve making bioethanol from rice straw by treating it with a chemical called sodium hydroxide. They studied how different amounts of this chemical and soaking times affected turning the straw into sugar. They discovered that soaking rice straw in a 1.5% sodium hydroxide solution for 45 hours made the most sugar. By using a mix of three enzymes on the treated straw, they got even more sugar. This sodium hydroxide treatment is better than not treating the straw, helping the enzymes work well. After fermenting the sugar with yeast, they made ethanol at a rate of 41.18% to 51.51% of the best possible amount. Overall, treating rice straw with sodium hydroxide for 45 hours improved the process of making bioethanol.