Conversion of cellulose into simple sugars

A method of converting cellulose into simple sugars comprising:

• in the presence of water, contacting cellulose with an enzyme breaker and vitamin B1 effective to catalytically cleave ether bonds of the cellulose to give at least one simple sugar, where the compound is present in an amount ranging from about 0.005 wt % to about 1 wt %, based on the cellulose present;
• where contacting the cellulose, the enzyme breaker, and the vitamin B1 occurs in an aqueous mixture having a pH in the alkaline range of from about 8 to about 12.

A method of converting cellulose into simple sugars comprising:

• in the presence of water, contacting cellulose with an enzyme breaker and vitamin B1 effective to catalytically cleave ether bonds of the cellulose to give at least one simple sugar, where the cellulose is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) made by a method comprising reacting crystalline cellulose with chloroacetic acid and a base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide and mixtures thereof, and where the contacting occurs at a temperature between about 70 to about 350° F.;
• where contacting the cellulose, the enzyme breaker, and the vitamin B1 occurs in an aqueous mixture having a pH in the alkaline range of from about 8 to about 12.