Development of a simple route for the catalytic conversion of starch-based industrial waste (potato peels) and potato starch into reducing sugars was investigated in two ionic liquids for comparison -1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [AMIM] Cl and 1-(4-sulfobutyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride [SBMIM] Cl. Over a two hour period, a 20 wt% solution containing up to 43% and 98% of reducing sugars at low temperature in aqueous [SBMIM] Cl was achieved for the starch-based waste and the potato starch, respectively. In addition, the use of microwave and low frequency ultrasound to perform the depolymerisation of the raw starch-based material was explored and compared with conventional heating processes. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.