The researchers wanted to see how different treatments, like using steam, acid, or alkali alone or together, affect corn stalks. They found that combining alkali and steam under specific pressure removed the most hemicellulose and lignin from the corn stalks. These treatments changed how the corn stalks were structured and made them more stable at high temperatures. The best way to break down the corn stalk material was to use steam with alkali. This method removed a large amount of hemicellulose and lignin, improved the corn stalk's structure, and increased its ability to handle high temperatures. Ultimately, it could be a great way to break down corn stalks efficiently.