This work evaluated the use of protic ionic liquids (PILs) in the pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse. Cations and anions with different chain lengths were used to synthesize four PILs, which had their performances evaluated by the solubilization of lignin in the pretreatment step and polysaccharides conversion in the enzymatic hydrolysis. The recovery and recycling of the best performing PIL (2-hydroxy ethylammonium acetate - [H3N(CH2)(2)OH][OAc]) was evaluated, as well as the addition of water in the PIL and the increase in solids concentration in the pretreatment and hydrolysis steps. Pretreatment of 10% (w/w) unground bagasse with [H3N(CH2)(2)OH][OAc]: water (5:1 w/w) followed by hydrolysis at 10% (w/v) solids yielded 0.355 g glucose/g raw bagasse and 0.150 g xylose/g raw bagasse. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.