The effect of eight metal ions, Cr 3+ , Mn 2+ , Fe 3+ , Co 2+ Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ and La 3+ on 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride acidic ionic liquid catalyzed hydrolysis of cellulose in water was studied at 140-170°C. Mn 2+ , Fe 3+ , and Co 2+ as co-catalysts produced significant enhancements in total reducing sugar (TRS) yields, with Mn 2+ showing the highest activity. Mn 2+ as co-catalyst produced 91.8, and 91.9% TRS yields, whereas samples without Mn 2+ gave 28.0 and 28.7% yields at 160 and 170°C respectively. The observed activation energies for cellulose hydrolysis without a co-catalyst and with Mn 2+ co-catalyst are 78.1 ± 1.4 and 32.8 ± 4.9 kJ·mol −1 respectively.