Method of separating saccharides from aqueous product solution of cellulose hydrolysis process

A method of separating a saccharide from an aqueous product solution of cellulose hydrolysis process, wherein the aqueous product solution comprises a saccharide and a cellulose swelling agent, and the cellulose swelling agent is zinc chloride, magnesium chloride or a combination thereof, and the method comprises the following steps in the given order:

• (a) adding a first tertiary amine and an optional first organic solvent to the aqueous product solution to provide a mixture;
• (b) performing a solid-liquid separation to obtain a solution from the mixture;
• and
• (c) performing a liquid-liquid extraction by adding a second tertiary amine and a second organic solvent to the solution to obtain an organic phase and an aqueous phase, and then removing the organic phase and collecting the aqueous phase, wherein the first tertiary amine and the second tertiary amine are the same or different, and the first organic solvent and the second organic solvent are the same or different,
• wherein the first tertiary amine and the second tertiary amine are independently represented by a formula of NR1R2R3, wherein each of R1, R2, and R3 is independently C4-C10 alkyl.