Eucalyptus globulus wood samples were subjected to hydrothermal treatments under mild operational conditions (145-190 degrees C, liquor to solid ratio 6-10 g g(-1), reaction times up to 7.5 h). Residual xylan, xylooligosaccharides, other sugars, furfural, glucan and lignin contents were determined. Negligible effects were caused by hydrothermal treatments on both cellulose and lignin. Kinetic models were developed which describe the hydrolysis of hemicelluloses. Xylan degradation, xylooligosaccharide and xylose generation, and xylose dehydration to furfural were accurately described by models based on pseudohomogeneous, first-order kinetics with Arrhenius-type temperature dependence. These models are useful for a technical evaluation of this environmentally friendly technology.