This system was tested using 0.75 dm3 of an aqueous solution of H2SO4 (0.5 % , v/v) enriched with 50 kg m? of either commercial particles of Avicel? and Larch xylan or 0.5 mm sieved particles of Tamarix jordanis. Each slurry was heated to about 200 ¡ãC by injecting steam at 28 bar for 90 s. The process efficiency was assessed by comparing the dissolution degree of suspended solid (YS), as well as xylose (YX), glucose (YG), and furfural (YF) yields, with those obtained in a conventional steam autoclave at 130 ¡ãC for 30 or 60 min. Treatment of T. jordanis particles in DSIA resulted in YS and YG values quite similar to those obtained in the steam autoclave at 130 ¡ãC for 60 min, but in a less efficient hemicellulose solubilization. A limited occurrence of pentose degradation products was observed in both equipments, suggesting that hydrolysis predominated over degradation reactions. The susceptibility of the residual solid fractions from DSIA treatment to a conventional 120 h long cellulolytic treatment using an enzyme loading of 5.4 FPU g? was markedly higher than that of samples hydrolysed in the steam autoclave, their corresponding glucose yields being equal to 0.94 and 0.22 g per gram of initial cellulose, respectively. Thus, T. jordanis resulted to be a valuable source of sugars for bioethanol production as proved by preliminary tests in the novel lab rig developed here.